"PLANET OF THE APES"
Screenplay
by
Michael Wilson
Based on Novel
By
Pierre Boulle
SHOOTING SCRIPT
May 5, 1967
REVISED:
05/11/67
05/16/67
05/23/67
06/09/67
06/15/67
06/22/67
07/06/67
07/27/67
FADE IN
1 EXT. CONSTELLATION OF ORION - NIGHT
Stars glitter like diamonds on the black velvet backdrop of space.
The Belt of Orion is center screen, but much nearer and larger
than ever seen by an Earth-bound astronomer.
A speck of light appears in the lower left corner of the screen.
No spaceship can be seen, but only a glowworm, a solitary sperma-
tosoan gliding through the womb of the universe. Over this we HEAR
the voice of an astronaut. He is concluding a report.
ASTRONAUT'S VOICE
(o.s.)
So ends my last signal until we reach
our destination. We are now on automatic,
a mere hundred and five light years from
our base ... and at the mercy of com-
puters. I've tucked in my crew for the
long sleep. I'll join them presently.
2 INT. CABIN OF SPACESHIP - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NIGHT
The cabin is neither cramped nor spacious, but about the size of the
President's cabin in Air Force One. In the immediate f.g. is a console
of dials and switches flanked by four chairs. Only one of the chairs
is occupied. The astronaut's back is to CAMERA. There is a ladder
amidships which leads to an escape hatch. The after Dart of the cabin
is obscured in darkness. We hear the MUSIC of a Mozart sonata emanating
from a phonograph of stereotape. The astronaut is speaking into a
microphone.
ASTRONAUT
Within the hour we shall complete
the sixth month of our flight from
Cape Kennedy. By our time, that is ...
He pauses, looking up at:
3 TWO LARGE CLOCKS - ON CABIN WALL
One clock is marked SELF TIME, but instead of twelve numerals it has
twenty-four. One of the needles is moving very slowly.
The other clock is labeled EARTH TIME, and its units, like those of a
tachometer, are given by hundreds and thousands.
The largest needle of this clock makes one revolution every second.
Over this we hear:
ASTRONAUT'S VOICE
(o.s.)
But according to Dr. Hasslein theory of
time in a vehicle traveling at close to
the speed of light, old Mother Earth has
aged a few thousand years since our de-
parture -- while we have scarcely aged
at all.
4 CLOSE ON ASTRONAUT
This is TAYLOR. He wears simple dungarees (or Churchill suit) and
comfortable boots. He seems calm and pensive. Extracting the butt of
a cigar from the breast pocket of his dungarees, he lights it, then
continues:
TAYLOR
It may be so. This much is probable: the
men who sent us on this journey have long
since been moldering in forgotten graves;
and those, if any, who read this message
are a different breed. Hopefully, a
better one.
He begins to roll up his left sleeve.
TAYLOR
I leave the twentieth century without
regret. Who was it? Marshall? ... said
'Modern man is the missin 'a link between
the ape and the human being.'
He removes the cigar from his mouth, turns to look out through one
of the portholes into the astral night.
TAYLOR
One final thought -- nothing scientific,
purely personal. Seen from up here,
everything looks different ... Time bends
and space is boundless. It squashes a
man's ego. He begins to feel like no more
than a mote in the eye of eternity. And
he is nagged by a question: ahat if any-
thing, will greet us on the end of man's
first journey to a star? Are we to believe
that throughout these thousands of galaxies,
these millions of stars, only one, that
speck of solar dust we call Earth, has
been graced -- or cursed -- by human life?
(pause)
I have to doubt it.
He extracts a hypodermic needle from his breast pocket and injects
it into the vein of his forearm. He continues speaking.
TAYLOR
(sardonically)
That's about all. I wonder if Man, that
marvel of the universe, that glorious
paradox who has sent me to the unknown...
still makes war against his brother., and
lets his neighbor's children starve.
Taylor withdraws the hypodermic needle from his vein and secures it in
a drawer of the console.
TAYLOR
Well then, Earthmen: A missing link
salutes you. Bless you, my descendants.
Taylor snuffs out the cigar butt and places it in the drawer beside the
hypodermic. Then, flicking a switch Au cut off the Mozart, he rises and
looks up again at:
5 THE CLOCK MARKED EARTH TIME
The longest needle of this clock now makes nearly two revolutions per
second. The shortest needle points to the numeral 2105.
6 INT. CABIN - TRACKING WITH TAYLOR
Space scientists have presumably solved the problem of weightlessness,
for Taylor walks the short distance from; the console to the after
section without particular effort. CAMERA FOLLOWS him, and we can now
see four glass capsules, or "caskets", in the rear of the cabin. Taylor
looks down at them.
7- SEVERAL SHOTS - THE FOUR CASKETS - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
10
One of them is open. The other three are occupied by astronauts: DODGE,
LANDON and STEWART. They, too, wear dungarees and boots. Dodge and
Landon are thirtyish, clean-shaven, virile -- America's finest. Stewart
is a handsome young woman, her hair bobbed short. Their eyes are closed
and they do not appear to be breathing -- yet no undertaker could make
them so alive.
11 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING TAYLOR
He grasps the handle of his own casket and slowly pulls himself into
it. Continuing SILENCE. CAMERA MOVES IN as Taylor Dulls the glass lid
shut and secures it. He adjusts two dials inside the capsule and lies
back, buckling his safety belt. CAMERA MOVES INTO A CLOSEUP of Taylor.
His eyes are open. He seems serene, even enraptured.
(NOTE: Credits will appear here over a series of shots designed to
convey a sense of loneliness, of separation, and of the passage of
time.)
DISSOLVE TO:
12- A SERIES OF SHOTS - A DISTANT GLOBE (MINIATURE)
16
We see a strange and distant planet. At first the globe occupies but a
small area of the screen; but with each new VIEW it comes closer and
looms larger, as if" observed from a spaceship in a spiraling orbit of
descent.
The topography of the planet bears little resemblance to our own. Much
of it is obscured by cloud cover; even more of-it appears to be
cratered desert of reddish hue. We can, however, make out a few narrow
"green belts" and a patch of blue water.
In the FINAL SHOTS of this SEQUENCE we see the strange planet as it
would be observed from a spacecraft plummeting from twenty thousand
feet to one thousand feet. It appears that the ship will fall into a
vast lake surrounded by soaring sandstone pinnacles. The water is
blue-black, the pinnacles vermillion. (This is the Lake Powell
location, at Lone Rock.)
17 INT. SPACESHIP - FULL SHOT - DAY
Four empty pilot seats are seen in f.g., the four glass caskets in
b.g. We HEAR the RHYTHMIC BLEAT of a WARNING SIGNAL, a RUSH OF WIND
as in a rapid descent, and perhaps the ROAR OF RETROJETS. Then, a
great CRASH as the craft hits water. The whole ship shudders on impact.
Loose equipment falls to the cabin floor. CAMERA MOVES DOWN the cabin
aisle as the ship begins to roll in the water and HOLDS on the four
glass caskets. There are THREE LOUD METALLIC CLICKS as the glass
domes of the caskets swing open automatically.
18 CLOSE ON TAYLOR
He now has a full beard. His eyes come open. Instantly alert, he
rises to a sitting position, gazing across at:
19 DODGE AND LANDON - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
They, too, awaken and sit up, starring at Taylor. They, too, are
bearded.
TAYLOR'S VOICE
(o.s.)
You all right?
They nod.
20 BACK TO TAYLOR - CLOSE SHOT
He glances at the casket beside his own.
TAYLOR
Stewart?
(struggling to his feet)
Stewart?
21 CLOSE-SHOT --THE FOURTH CASKET
Its dome remains unopened. The young woman is a skeleton in a
Churchill suit.
22 REACTION SHOT - THE THREE ASTRONAUTS
Dodge and Landon have joined Taylor and-stare at the grinning skull
of their dead comrade. A low, descending HUM of equipment is heard.
Simultaneously the lights begin to FADE. A moment later they brighten,
but not as much as before.
TAYLOR
There goes our primary power. We're on
auxilliary.
A slight CRACKING sound is heard. Taylor turns quickly away and o.s.:
23 REVERSE ANGLE - THE FORWARD CABIN
A trickle of water has begun to seep through a ruptured seam in the
cabin. Taylor darts to a porthole and peers cut.
24 LONG SHOT - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:
water
The porthole is no more than six inches above the line. In the
distance we discern a shoreline of red desert.
TAYLOR'S VOICE
(o.s.)
We're in the soup. We're sinking.
25 INT. CABIN - FULL SHOT
The leak in the seam becomes a growing spray of water. Taylor
turns away from the porthole, calling:
TAYLOR
Dodge! Read the atmosphere!
Dodge moves instantly to the ladder beneath an escape hatch and
mounts it. Taylor stumbles down the aisle of the rolling ship toward
the console and addresses Landon, who is still staring at Stewart's
skeleton.
TAYLOR
Landon! Send a last signal.
LANDON
(dazed)
What signal?
TAYLOR
To Earth! That we've landed!
As Landon lurches toward the communications equipment in f.g.
CUT TO:
26 EXT. TIM STRANGE PLANET - LONG PANORAMIC SHOT - LATE AFTERNOON (LONE
ROCK, LAKE POWELL)
We are looking at a lifeless desert of sandstone buttes and pinnacles.
There is no sign of vegetation anywhere. CAMERA PANS DOWN to a body
of water that could be the bay of an inland sea. The deep blue of the
sea contrasts sharply to the red sands of the shoreline. CAMERA HOLDS
on the stricken spaceship, wallowing like a beached whale a hundred
yards offshore. The portholes of the craft are beneath the water, and
only its roof and the tail fin of its tail assembly are visible. The
red-hot skin of the ship vaporizes the water around it.
Suddenly a snorkel-like tube sprouts from the escape hatch, which is
located amidships.
27 INT. CABIN - CLOSE ON CLOSED ESCAPE HATCH
Dodge, standing halfway up the ladder., has fastened a kit of gauges
to the end of the snorkel tube. He reads the dials, removes the kit,
sniffs the air in the tube and then, taking a deep breath, announces:
DODGE
It's breathable.
TAYLOR'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Okay! Blow the hatch before we lose
auxilliary power.
Dodge reaches for a control mechanism near the escape hatch.
28 CLOSE ON TAYLOR AND LANDON
The spray of water coming through the ruptured seam is increasing.
The LIGHTS DIM again and the SOUND of the warning signal FADES. While
Landon fiddles with the radio, Taylor tries to get the tape recorder
rolling, but all we hear are scrambled and unintelligible noises.
LANDON
It's no use ... there she goes.
TAYLOR
Forget it. Abandon ship.
29 WIDER ANGLE - TIM CABIN
The escape hatch is now open. Taylor darts over to the ladder and
passes a folded life raft up to Dodge. When Landon reaches the ladder,
Taylor hands him two neatly packed rucksacks, and Landon climbs
through the escape hatch. Taylor is about to follow with a third
rucksack, then turns and crosses the cabin for a last look at:
30 THE TWO CLOCKS - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
Both clocks have stopped: the red needle of the clock labeled SELF
TIME rests on the numeral 18; the red needle of the clock marked
EARTH TIME rests on the numeral 3975.
31 EXT. TOP OF SPACECRAFT - MED. SHOT
Dodge inflates the raft with a cartridge of compressed air and
tosses it into the water. He and Landon jump into the water and
climb onto the raft as Taylor emerges from the hatch, Taylor slips
into the water and climbs onto the raft. He and Landon begin to
paddle toward shore, while Dodge immediately opens another kit and
takes a sample of the water.
32 CLOSE ON THE MEN IN THE RAFT
DODGE
(half to himself)
Briny...twenty-five percent salinity.
Near the saturation point.
LANDON
(looking back)
She's still sinking...
33 THE SPACESHIP - FROM THEIR P.O.V.
Only the radio antenna and the tip of the tail fin remain visible.
LANDON'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Going ... going...
The craft vanishes beneath the water.
34 CLOSE ON THE MEN IN THE RAFT
Dodge is still busy with his kit. Landon is still looking back, but
Taylor doesn't bother to turn his head.
LANDON
Gone.
TAYLOR
(flatly)
We're here to stay.
35 ANOTHER ANGLE - MOVING WITH THE RAFT
They gaze at the forbidding sandstone battlements as they near the
shore.
LANDON
Well? Where are we? Have any notion,
skipper?
TAYLOR
(confidently)
We're some three hundred and twenty
light years from Earth. On an unnamed
planet in orbit around a star in the
constellation of Orion.
(looks off at
the "sun")
That could be Bellatrix.
36 THE SUN - FROM THEIR P.O.V.
Low on the horizon, seen through a dense envelope of dust particles.
DODGE'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Too red for Bellatrix.
37 BACK TO ASTRONAUTS IN RAFT
Landon glances skeptically at Taylor.
LANDON
You didn't have time to check the
tapes, so you don't really know,
do you?
(as Taylor ignores
him)
What went wrong?
(sardonically)
We weren't programmed to land
in water.
DODGE
(grinning)
The question, Landon, is not so much
where we are as when we are.
TAYLOR
(stands up in raft)
We've had a nice snooze. Let's start
earning all our back pay.
38 WIDER ANGLE - THE BEACH
As the three astronauts step out into shallow water and pull the
raft ashore.
TAYLOR
Take your soil test, Dodge. I'll
check the equipment.
Dodge moves inland about ten yards, removes a small hand drill
from his belt, extends the rod of the drill three feet and begins
to take some subsoil samplings. Taylor begins to examine the contents
of the three rucksacks. Landon sits down on the beach., hands around
his knees, gazing moodily at the sunken spaceship. During this and
succeeding scenes we sense that Dodge's obsession with scientific
inquiry leaves him immune to fear: Landon is possibly more courageous
and certainly more "human," for he has many fears to control: while
Taylor -- detached, cool and misanthropic -- is something of an enigma.
TAYLOR
(calls Dodge)
Got your sensors?
DODGE
Yo!
TAYLOR
Geiger counter?
DODGE
Yo!
TAYLOR
(taking inventory)
One pistol... twenty-four rounds of
ammo. two medical kits.. one camera...
one TX9.
(loudly to the
others)
We've enough food and water for three
days.
DODGE
But how long is a day?
TAYLOR
Good question.
(turning)
Landon -- check your communications
kit.
39 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING LANDON
He seems not to have heard.
TAYLOR
(sharply)
Landon! Join the expedition.
LANDON
(rising)
Sorry...
(crossing to his kit)
I was thinking of Stewart. What
d'you suppose happened?
TAYLOR
(flatly)
Air leak. Died in her sleep.
LANDON
You don't seem very cut up about
it.
TAYLOR
It's a little late for a wake. She's
been dead nearly a year.
LANDON
Then we've been away from Earth for
eighteen months.
TAYLOR
By our time.
(smiling at Landon)
You've turned gray.
Landon involuntarily touches the gray hair of his temple as Taylor
adds lightly:
TAYLOR
Apart from that, you look pretty chipper
for a man who's two thousand and thirty
one years old.
(casually)
I read the clocks. They bear out Hasslein's
hypothesis. We've been away from Earth for
two thousand years, give or take a decade.
(pause)
Still can't accept it, huh?
LANDON
long pause)
You know it.
TAYLOR
Because time has wiped out everyone and
everything you cared for -- they're dust.
LANDON
Prove it. If we can't get back, it's still
just a theory.
TAYLOR
It's a fact, Landon. Buy it. You'll sleep
better.
Dodge enters scene. A handful of reddish sand dribbles through his
fingers.
DODGE
Nothing will grow here .... there's just a
trace of hydrocarbons, and most of the
nitrogen is locked into nitrates.
TAYLOR
Any sign of dangerous ionization?
DODGE
No.
TAYLOR
(rising)
Okay. If there's no life here, we've got
just seventy-two hours to find it. That's
when the groceries run out.
He picks up one of the rucksacks and puts it on. The others follow
suit.
DODGE
Which direction?
TAYLOR
(decisively, pointing
west)
That way.
DODGE
Any particular reason?
TAYLOR
None at all.
He moves out. Dodge follows. CAMERA PANS with them. They have gone
only a few paces when Taylor looks back over his shoulder and halts.
40 REVERSE ANGLE - FEATURING LANDON
Landon is squatting in the sand, sticking something into the soil.
It is a small American flag, the size of a handkerchief.
41 REVERSE ANGLE - FEATURING TAYLOR AND DODGE
Mirth bubbles up in Taylor's throat. He explodes with wild laughter.
He is still laughing as they move out.
DISSOLVE TO:
41-A DAWN SHOT (GUNSIGHT LOC #43)
42 THE ASTRONAUTS' TREK
They descend from the plateau (Ochre Dunes)
43 ASTRONAUTS CONTINUE MARCH,
Across the top of the hills there suddenly runs a line of fire (Black
Dunes).
44 THEY MOVE ACROSS THE TERRAIN
Jagged bolts of lightning flash across the sky, but bring, no rain, and
thunder claps sound like heavy artillery. (Gray Area)
45- OUT
58
QUICK DISSOLVE TO:
59 ANOTHER PART OF THE CANYON (OCHRE DUNES AREA) - GROUP
SHOT - DAY
Several huge boulders are dislodged, and the three astronauts run.
wildly to escape the falling rocks. When the avalanche ends, they
sprawl on the lifeless sands, breathing heavily and drenched with
sweat, surrounded by enormous boulders. Taylor looks about him.
TAYLOR
Everybody all right?
Murmurs of assent from Dodge and Landon. Taylor rummages through a
limp rucksack, comes up with some empty food cartons,rummages again,
coming up with a cigar butt.
TAYLOR
Water check.
Dodge takes a plastic canteen from another rucksack and inspects it.
DODGE
Eight ounces.
Dodge lies back and looks up at the sky.
DODGE
It doesn't add up. There's a mantle of
dust around this planet and yet it's
as humid as a jungle. Thunder and
lightning and yet no rain. Cloud cover
every night and that strange luminosity,
and yet no moon.
Landon also looks up at the sky.
LANDON
If only we could get a fix.
TAYLOR
(needling him)
What would you learn? I've told you
where you are and when you are.
DODGE
(gently)
Taylor -- quit riding him.
TAYLOR
(harshly, to Landon)
You're more than three hundred light
years from your precious planet. Your
loved ones have been dead and forgotten
for twenty centuries. Even if you could
get back, they'd think you were
something that fell out of a tree.
LANDON
(wearily)
All right --
TAYLOR
There's only one reality left. We're
here and it's now. You get ahold of that
and hang on tight, or you might as well
be dead.
LANDON
(quietly)
I'm prepared to die.
Taylor turns to Dodge, throws up his hands.
TAYLOR
He's prepared to die! Doesn't that make
you misty? Chalk up another victory for
the human spirit!
Dodge rises and moves off, o.s., either embarrassed by this colloquy
or unwilling to hear it again. Taylor, cigar clamped between his
teeth, spins toward Landon.
TAYLOR
Straighten me out on something. Why did
you come along at all? You volunteered.
Why?
(a beat; no answer)
I'll tell you. They nominated you for the
Big One and you couldn't turn it down. Not
without losing your All-American standing
LANDON
(hard)
Climb off me, will you!
TAYLOR
And the glory, don't forget that. There's
a life-sized bronze statue of you somewhere.
It's probably turned green by now, and nobody
can read the name plate. But never let it be
said we forget our heroes.
LANDON
Taylor. I'm telling you --
TAYLOR
Oh, and one last item. Immortality.
You wanted to go on forever.
(pause)
Well, you damn near made it. Except for
Dodge and me, you've lived longer than
anybody. And with Stewart dead, it looks
like we're the last of the strain. You got
what you wanted, kid. How does it taste?
Silence. Taylor lies down, spent of his venom, pillowing
his head on a rucksack.
LANDON
(softly)
Okay. You read me well enough.
Why can't I read you?
TAYLOR
Don't bother
LANDON
(looking off)
Dodge ... he's not like me at all. But
he makes sense. Held walk naked into a
live volcano if he thought he could learn
something no other man knew. I understand
why he's here. But you...You're no seeker.
You're negative.
TAYLOR
But I'm not prepared to die.
LANDON
(heatedly)
I'd like to know why not. You thought
life on Earth was meaningless. You despised
people. So what did you do? You ran away.
Taylor's eyes are closed. He is silent for a moment. When he speaks,
his tone is soft, reflective.
TAYLOR
No, not quite, Landon. I'm a bit of a
seeker myself. But my dreams are a lot
emptier than yours.
(pause)
I can't get rid of the idea that somewhere
in the Universe there must be a creature
superior to man.
60 ANOTHER ANGLE - FEATURING DODGE
who has been wandering around, studying the boulders and the barren
soil. Taylor and Landon can be seen in b.g. Dodge spots something and
squats down to examine it.
61 CLOSEUP - WHAT DODGE SEES:
It is a tiny desert flower, no more than an inch high.
62 CLOSEUP - DODGE
His eyes light up as he calls:
DODGE
Taylor! Over here!
63 CLOSE. GROUP SHOT - ANGLING DOWN
as Taylor and Landon hurry over and kneel down on either side of Dodge.
The astronauts hover over the tiny flower like three magi perceiving
the infant Deliverer.
DODGE
Life.
He digs gently around the roots of the plant with a small instrument.
DODGE
Where there's one there's another. And
another. And another.
TAYLOR
Let's find them all.
63-A SUNSET SHOT
64 END OF THE TREK AS THE ASTRONAUTS START FROM THE CANYON
TO THE TAMARISK AREA
Absolute desolation (Ochre Area). The astronauts start down
the canyon.
65 ASTRONAUTS CAST HUGE SHADOWS
As they move across the terrain (top of Crazy Canyon).
65-A JUMP SHOT
As they jump across a gap. Thunder and lightning again (top of
Crazy Canyon).
65-B THEY MOVE DOWN
They march across Crazy Canyon overlook.
65-C REACTION SHOTS OF ASTRONAUTS
66-
A-R SERIES OF SHOTS OF DESCENT OF ASTRONAUTS DOWN SHEER FACE OF A CANYON
(Wire Grass Canyon).
For a brief moment several "creatures" appear. We cannot identify the
species.
QUICK DISSOLVE T0:
67 EXT. A DRY WASH - CLOSE GROUP SHOT - DAY
Blooming tamarisks border a. dry stream bed. Taylor and Landon hover
over Dodge, who is probing the soil with his drill. Their dungarees and
faces are caked with dust.
DODGE
It's a stream bed., no doubt about
it -- but bone dry.
Landon strightens up and looks off, startled by something he sees.
LANDON
Look. . .
68 LONG SHOT - A CLIFF BEYOND THE TAMARISKS
with the astronauts in f.g. In the distance, on the skyline, we can
make out a long row of wooden crosses. Some animal or vegetable matter
appears to be tied to the crosses.
LANDON
Scarecrows?
TAYLOR
Let's take a look.
Taylor plunges into the thicket of tamarisks, followed by Dodge and
Landon. Their view of the cliff is momentarily obscured. CAMERA HOLDS
on the distant crosses. For an instant only, three "creatures" again
appear on the skyline near the crosses. Then they vanish.
69 REVERSE ANGLE - THE ASTRONAUTS
as they emerge from the tamarisk thicket-nearer to the base of the-
cliff. They halt and look up at:
70 THE CROSSES - ANGLING UP - FROM ASTRONAUT'S P.O.V.
We can now see the pelts of unrecognizable animals have been bound to
the crosses and, thus mounted in a long row, seem to make a boundary
or serve as a warning. The living bipeds are no longer visible.
71 BACK TO THE ASTRONAUTS
Dodge and Landon are still looking up at the strange crosses, but
Taylor is scanning the terrain at the base of the cliff. The sound of
rushing water can be heard.
TAYLOR
(half to himself)
Never mind the scarecrows.
He breaks into a run, CAMERA PANNING with him as he moves toward a
declivity in the face of the cliff.
72 MOVING SHOT - DODGE AND LANDON
Agonized with thirst, they follow Taylor.
73 FLASH SHOT - THE TOP OF THE CLIFF
For an instant we see the bipeds again, moving in the same direction.
74 EXT. A DECLIVITY IN THE CLIFF - FEATURING TAYLOR
He scrambles up a rock-strewn gorge and looks off at the terrain
beyond.
75 EXT. A WATERFALL - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
The cascade is not spectacular, but the vegetation around it is
startlingly lush. (This location is not at Lake Powell, but at the
Ranch).
76 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR
His parched lips break into a smile.
QUICK DISSOLVE TO:
77 EXT. WATERFALL AND POOL - FULL SHOT - DAY
The cascade has formed a cool and inviting pool. Thick foliage grows to
its very edge. Dodge is on his hands and knees, testing the liquid with
his kit. The others wait expectantly.
DODGE
It's loaded with minerals, but safe.
Without further ado Landon ducks his face into the pool. Dodge scoops
up water in his hands and drinks. Taylor follows suit.
LANDON
(coming up for air)
Can we take a dip?
TAYLOR
(looks around)
Okay.
Landon and Dodge immediately remove their boots, strip down and plunge
into the pool. But Taylor does not yet disrobe. Alert and curious, he
strolls along the bank of the pool, looking around.
78 DODGE AND LANDON SWIMMNG
79 TAYLOR
as he briefly looks around, then starts taking off his shirt.
80 DODGE AND LANDON
as they arrive at opposite shore.
81 MED . SHOT - FAR SIDE OF POOL
as Landon sees something on shore.
82 TAYLOR IN WATER
as he swims across.
LANDON'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Hey, Taylor! Look at this --
Dodge and Taylor climb out of the pool and squat beside Landon.
83 CLOSE SHOT - WHAT THEY SEE:
The print of a large five-toad foot is clearly visible in the wet sand.
84 GROUP SHOT - THE THREE ASTRONAUTS
Taylor rises and walks slowly toward the underbrush, scanning the
ground for other sports.
CUT TO:
85 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL - FULL PANNING SHOT
Our view of the astronauts beyond the cascade in b.g. is partially
obscured by broad-leafed foliage directly in front of CAMERA, which
PANS SLOWLY away from the waterfall and HOLDS on the astronauts'
clothing at the edge of the pool. Suddenly and inexplicably a pair of
dungarees slithers away into the underbrush. A few seconds pass. Now a
pair of bronzed and brawny shoulders fill the SCREEN, blocking our
view.
86 REVERSE ANGLE - CLOSE ON A HUMAN FACE IN HEAVY FOLIAGE
Or is it human? The hair is matted, the face bearded, the jaw
prognathous, the orbital rim prominent.
87 ANOTHER ANGLE - AT EDGE OF POOL
A brown thick-fingered hand appears from behind heavy foliage and
plucks at a boot. The boot vanishes.
88 BACK TO THE ASTRONAUTS - ON OTHER SIDE OF POOL
Dodge is standing near Taylor and looking back at the spot where they
left their clothing. Suddenly he seizes Taylor's arm and points
silently at the far bank of the pool.
89 WHAT THEY SEE:
Another pair of dungarees slithers into the underbrush and disappears.
90 REVERSE ANGLE - FULL PANNING SHOT - THE ASTRONAUTS
Led by Taylor, they dive back into the pool and swim to the other bank.
Emerging from the water, they look around in bewilderment. Taylor makes
hand signals to indicate absolute silence and a reconnaissance. The
three astronauts fan out and move cautiously into the jungle (or rain
forest).
91-
93 EXT. - JUNGLE (OR RAIN FOREST) - SEVERAL SHOTS - MOVING WITH THE
ASTRONAUT'S
Little sunlight penetrates this dense vegetation. These SHOTS are
INTERCUT with:
94 WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS SEE:
fleeting forms as yet unidentified; trembling foliage; brown shadows
against a green backdrop.
95 EXT. A SMALL CLEARING - FAVORING THE THREE ASTRONAUTS
who stop at the edge of the clearing, startled by
96 WHAT THEY SEE:
a number of primitive bipeds, male and female, scarcely visible behind
trees and bushes on the other side of the clearing -- here a face,
there a portion of a head and torso. Throughout this sequence, the
primitives are never seen clearly or at close range.
97 BACK TO THE AST40IONAUTS
reacting. They speak in whispers.
LANDON
My God..they look almost human.
DODGE
They -- there's a herd of them.
TAYLOR
Show them we're friendly.
CAMERA PULLS BACK as Taylor advances a few steps into the clearing,
extending his empty hands and beaming like a politician.
TAYLOR
(warmly)
Greetings!
98 REVERSE - THE STRANGE CREATURES - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
There are perhaps a dozen of them. They shrink back as Taylor advances
-- hostile, frightened or both. We now see that some of them are
clutching articles of the astronauts' clothing and equipment. Taylor
stops, stares at them glumly.
TAYLOR
No cigar.
LANDON
Try telling them our names.
Taylor grimaces at Landon.
TAYLOR
Well, if we're looking for an icebreaker...
(turning to the creatures)
Listen, folks .....
More shrinking back by the frightened primitives.
DODGE
(softly)
I'm afraid they aren't having any.
99- OUT
102
103- A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - THE JUNGLE (OR RAIN FOREST):
105
A pistol goes off with a deafening crash, and the primitive creatures
scatter in panicky flight. After a while, quiet returns to the jungle.
106 EXT. A JUNGLE PATH - THE ASTRONAUTS
They examine the remnants of their clothing and equipment and start to
don whatever is able to be worn. Taylor puts on what remains of a
ripped pair of trousers; Dodge starts to improvise from the remnants of
the kit (it is a torn shelter half). Landon, like Taylor, has the
remains of his pants.
DODGE
They didn't leave much did they?
LANDON
Shall we follow them?
TAYLOR
Haven't much choice.
As they walk off down the jungle path.
DISSOLVE TO:
107 EXT. A GROVE OF FRUIT TREES - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
This need not be a cultivated grove. A few trees (peach or apricot or
avocado, it matters not) grow wild in a pleasant glade. Nor is the
grove extensive. The three astronauts sit under a tree in f.g.; the
primitives sit under a clump, of trees some fifty yards away. Each camp
is feeding and warily watching the other. In the distance beyond the
fruit trees is an open grassy plain or cultivated field.
108 THE PRIMITIVES - FROM LANDON'S P.O.V.
They too are sitting under trees, munching fruit. There are no more
than a dozen altogether.
109 BACK TO ASTRONAUTS - CLOSE GROUP SHOT
TAYLOR
Well, at least they haven't
tried to bite us.
DODGE
Blessed are the vegetarians.
110 THE OTHER CAMP - FEATURING A YOUNG WOMAN
Squatting on her haunches, eating fruit, gazing back at Taylor. Her
hair is long and black, her skin nut brown, her face hauntingly lovely
and hauntingly stupid. This is NOVA.
111 BACK TO ASTRONAUTS
Landon looks o.s. at the primitives.
LANDON
We got off at the wrong stop.
TAYLOR
You're our optimist Look at the bright
side. If that's the best there is
around here, in six months we'll be
running this planet.
DODGE
(suddenly)
Look...
112 THE PRIMITIVES - THEIR P.O.V.
They appear to be agitated although neither we nor the astronauts
have yet heard or seen any cause for alarm. The primitives get to
their feet, sniffing, listening
113 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE ASTRONAUTS
Puzzled and alarmed by the primitives' behavior, they too get to
their feet.
LANDON
Think they'll attack us?
Taylor turns, looks back at:
114 THE DISTANT JUNGLE (OR FOREST)
From which they recently emerged. There is no sign of life.
115 LONG PANNING SHOT - THE PRIMITIVES
They suddenly run laterally across the grove, heading back toward
their jungle. A rumble becomes audible it is the SOUND of HOOFBEATS.
116 VERY LONG SHOT - THE JUNGLE (OR FOREST)
Twelve "horsemen" suddenly emerge from the trees, riding abreast at a
canter, like a squadron of cavalry about to charge. The horses look
huge. So do the riders, but at this distance we cannot identify them.
117 LONG PANNING SHOT - THE PRIMITIVES
Cut off from their natural habitat, they reverse direction and flee
toward the tall grasses of the savanna (or cultivated field).
118 LONG SHOT - THE RIDERS
With an exultant battle cry they break into a gallop. The hunt is on.
119 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE THREE ASTRONAUTS
Stupefied, frozen in place.
120 LONG SHOT - THE RIDERS
Coming closer. We HEAR a rifle shot, then a flurry of shots.
121 MED. SHOT.
A bullet spanks into the fruit trees above their heads. They run,
CAMERA PANNING with them as they race toward the tall grass in deep
b.g.
122- A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - THE HUNT IN THE SAVANNA
124
As the "horsemen" close in on the creatures fleeing on foot.
125 MED. CLOSE SHOT - A RIDER
He reins in, raises his rifle and fires. For the first time, we se that
he is a GORILLA. He wears a simple quasi-military uniform -- tunic,
trousers and boots.
126 FLASH SHOT - DODGE
Running through the high grass. He is shot in the back and falls.
127 FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR
He drops at the side of his fallen comrade.
128 CLOSE TWO SHOT - ANGLING DOWN ON DODGE
As Taylor rolls him over. Dodge is dead.
129 WIDER ANGLE SHOT - THE SAVANNA - FEATURING A LINE OF BEATERS
The beaters are all GORILLAS. They carry long sticks and nets, and
their task is to flush out the terrified primitives cowering in the
tall grass.
130- A SERIES OF SHOTS - THE HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED:
135
(a) Landon flees from one rider only to be cut off by another.
He stumbles and a rearing stallion tramples him.
(b) A third mounted gorilla flings a net over a running female.
She is hopelessly entangled. This is Nova.
(c) Landon lies unconscious on the grassy plain, an ugly gash
on his forehead.
(d) Taylor crawls through the tall grass on his hands and knees.
A rider crosses his path without seeing him.
(e) The beaters close in on Taylor, blocking his escape route.
(f) Taylor changes direction and decides to run for it.
136 EXT, SAVANNA - PANNING WITH TAYLOR
Bent low, he flees through the tall grass. A SHOT rings out. Taylor
falls.
137 CLOSE ON TAYLOR
Lying on his back. His fingers go to his throat. Blood appears between
his fingers. He opens his mouth in pain, but no sound comes forth, as
Taylor sinks into unconsciousness.
DISSOLVE TO:
138 EXT. GROVE - FULL SHOT - THE HUNTERS - DAY
The hunting party has reassembled here beneath the fruit trees. Some of
the gorillas have dismounted; others are still on horseback. In the
middle distance is a crude horse-drawn wagon. The sides and top of the
wagon form a wire cage. Three captive males and one female are visible
within the cage. Dodge and Landon are nowhere to be seen. Two gorilla
porters enter scene, dragging a male human corpse by the ankles, as two
other bearers enter scene with a living burden on a long carrying pole.
Taylor dangles from the pole, held aloft by the bonds around his wrists
and ankles. CAMERA PANS with the two gorillas as they dump Taylor into
the wagon and close the tail gate.
139- OUT
140
141 CLOSE ON TAYLOR - WITHIN WAGON CAGE
His throat is smeared with blood. His eyelids flutter as he regains
consciousness.
142 CLOSE SHOT - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:
Three primitive males bound hand and foot. They seem docile in
captivity. The female, Nova, clasps bound wrists around her bound
ankles and gazes blankly at Taylor. There is a JOLT of MOVEMENT as the
wagon gets underway
143 CLOSE ON TAYLOR
With a great effort he raises himself on one elbow and looks out from
the cage.
144 TRUCKING WITH THE WAGON - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:
A gorilla hunter stands over a dead man, one foot planted he chest of
his kill and his rifle butt resting on the on abdomen. Facing him is
another gorilla with an old-fashioned camera on a tripod.
APE PHOTOGRAPHER
Smile.
The hunter bares his teeth.
145 CLOSE ON TAYLOR
He faints.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
146 INT. A SURGERY - ANGLING DOWN ON TWO OPERATING TABLES NIGHT
The surgery is dimly-lit. (If possible we should be unaware of the
source of illumination.) Taylor lies strapped to the nearer table. He
appears to be unconscious. The young female captive, Nova, is strapped
to the table beside him. She is conscious. Taylor is receiving a direct
blood transfusion from her.
Hovering over Taylor are a NURSE and a surgeon named GALEN. Both are
chimpanzees. Galen wears a bloody surgical apron, the nurse a white
smock. Galen is removing a filthy bandage from Taylor's neck. A door
behind them opens and DR. ZIRA, an animal psychologist, enters. She,
too, is a chimpanzee and wears a smock like the nurse's.
ZIRA
Which one was wearing the strange
clothes?
GALEN
Him.
Zira looks down at Taylor.
ZIRA
Will he live?
GALEN
(irritably)
I don't know. This beast lost a lot
of blood.
Galen paws through a tray of surgical instruments. The equipment is
obsolescent and the room untidy -- like that of a callous small-town
veterinarian.
GALEN
(to Nurse )
There's no probe here. Find one!
NURSE
Yes, sir.
She exits. Zira runs a forefinger across a dusty table.Her voice is
soft and well-modulated.
ZIRA
This place is dirty, doctor.
GALEN
(defensively)
These animals are dirty, doctor. They
stink, and they carry communicable
diseases. Why aren't they cleaned up
before they're brought here?
147 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA
His eyes come open. Over this we hear:
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
You don't sound happy in your work.
GALEN'S VOICE
(o.s.)
I'm nothing more than a vet in this
laboratory...
Taylor feebly turns his head and looks at Nova. She returns his gaze
with an unchanged empty stare. We sense that Taylor realizes her blood
is flowing into his veins. Over this we hear:
GALEN'S VOICE
(o.s.)
You promised to speak to Dr. Zaius
about me.
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
I did. But you know how he looks down
his nose at chimpanzees.
Taylor rolls his eyes toward the apes. Weak as he is,we see his
astonishment at hearing them talk.
148 BACK TO GROUP AROUND OPERATING TABLE
as the Nurse reenters with a probe and hands it to Dr. Galen, who
protests to Zira:
GALEN
But the quota system's been abolished!
You made it. Why can't I?
ZIRA
What do you mean, made it? I'm an
animal psychologist, that's all. We
don't have any authority.
GALEN
You do pretty well when it comes to
getting space and equipment.
ZIRA
That's because Dr. Zaius realizes our
work has value.
GALEN
Hmph.
ZIRA
The foundations of scientific brain
surgery are being laid right here -
in studies of cerebral function in
these animals.
GALEN
They're still dirty. And their bite is
septic. Look at that ...
He shows Zira infected teeth marks on the back of his left hand.
GALEN
(to Nurse)
Hold his head.
The Nurse complies, gripping Taylor's skull with both hands. Galen
leans down and begins to probe the throat wound. Taylor passes out.
DISSOLVE TO:
149 INT. A ROW OF CAGES - ANIMAL LABORATORY - TRACKING SHOT DAY
The cages are no larger than small jail cells. There are four of them.
Bars, not walls, divide the cages, so that all four are visible. Each
of the first three cages is occupied by a primitive male. At the moment
the first two are quiet -- dozing or scratching apathetically. The
third occupant is stolidly regarding a half-dozen brightly colored
hollow wooden boxes, or blocks, Of varying sizes and proportions on the
floor of his cage. He is trying to stack the boxes in such a way as to
reach a banana dangling from a cord twelve feet overhead. He has
correctly selected the first two large, sturdy blocks for his tower
under the banana -- but the tall third block is too unstable on its
small base to support the broad-based fourth block.
149-A CLOSE - TAYLOR
Taylor, Looking much stronger, sits on a pile of dirty straw in the
fourth cage. There is a clean bandage around his throat. He watches the
block-building primitive with contemptous amusement.
Both the third and fourth blocks tumble to the floor when the primitive
tries to mount his tower. He stands there, staring dully at the
scattered blocks, then up at the unattainable banana.
149-B MED. - THE LABORATORY
A door at the end of the aisle opens and a gorilla named JULIUS enters,
dressed in a keeper's uniform. He quickly closes the door, snatches up
a broom, starts sweeping. Julius is obviously late for work. Taylor
struggles to his feet, moves to the bars of the cage, tries to call
out.
TAYLOR
(soundlessly)
Hey! Hey!
The three other primitives move toward the bars of their cages. Julius
barks at them.
JULIUS
Simmer down!
(points at Taylor)
You especially.
The third primitive goes back to stacking his blocks. Julius comes up
to Taylor's cage, indicates a like set of blocks strewn across its
floor, extends his broom handle to whack the banana overhead.
JULIUS
Better give it a try, stupid. Unless
you like going hungry.
He returns to his sweeping. Taylor glowers at him. A moment later, the
door at the end of the aisle opens and Dr. Zira enters.
JULIUS
Good morning, Dr. Zira.
ZIRA
Good morning, Julius. How's our patient
today?
JULIUS
No change. The minute you open the door,
he goes into his act.
She starts down the aisle toward Taylor's cage. He grasps the bars,
awaiting her anxiously. As she passes the second cage, the primitive in
it shakes the bars, jumps up and down. His tongue is hanging out. Zira
smiles, stops, digs into the pocket of her smock.
ZIRA
(playfully)
Well, what do we want this morning? Do
we want something? Speak! Come on, speak!
The primitive continues to jump up and down energetically. Zira takes a
cube of sugar from her pocket, holds it up for his inspection.
ZIRA
Do we want some sugar, old-timer?
The man eagerly sticks his hand through the bars. She drops the cube in
his hands. He jams it into his mouth.
JULIUS
(concerned)
You could get hurt doing that, Doctor.
ZIRA
Don't be silly. He's perfectly tame.
She moves toward Taylor's cage, Julius behind her.
JULIUS
They're all tame until they take a
chunk out of you.
150 CLOSE SHOT - FEATURING TAYLOR - ZIRA AND JULIUS
Taylor starts to open his mouth as Zira comes up to the bars.
ZIRA
Well, Bright Eyes, is our throat
feeling better?
TAYLOR
(frantic mouthing)
Listen, listen -- I can speak --
He winces, puts his hand to the bandage.
ZIRA
(sympathetically)
Awww, it still hurts, doesn't it?
JULIUS
See? He keeps pretending he can
talk.
Taylor glares at Julius, slams the bars.
TAYLOR
(mouthing)
I'm not pretending! I can talk!
Zira hurriedly takes a pen and notebook from the breast Docket of her
smock, starts to scribble.
ZIRA
(excitedly)
Did you see that? It's remarkable!
JULIUS
Huh?
ZIRA
He's trying to form words.
JULIUS
Well, you know what they say.
Human see, human do.
Taylor is staring in silent fascination at the open and notebook.He
stops mouthing, points at them.
JULIUS
Now what?
Taylor gestures for Zira to come closer to the bars.
ZIRA
He seems to want something.
She advances tentatively toward the cage.
JULIUS
I'd be careful, doctor.
Taylor suddenly reaches through the bars, tries to snatch the pen and
notebook from Zira. Julius instantly jabs his broom handle through the
bars, hitting Taylor in the ribs.
JULIUS
What did I tell you!
(to Taylor)
Try that again, I'll break your arm!
Zira draws back, looking at Taylor in surprise.
151 CLOSER - TAYLOR
His face is twisted in frustration.
TAYLOR
(mouthing)
What's the matter with you? I can
talk! Can't you see that?
Over this a door is heard opening o.s., and Julius' voice, nervous,
deferential:
JULIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
Good morning, Your Excellency.
Taylor looks o.s.
152- OUT
160
161 BOOM SHOT - THE THREE APES - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
Julius and Zira cross to a stout, imposing orangutan who has just
entered the laboratory. Julius bows to him. This is DR. ZAIUS. Like the
other apes, he wears a simple tunic and trousers, but his garments are
of a Costlier material, and several decorations are woven into the sash
of his tunic.
ZIRA
(bubbling)
Dr. Zaius, I'm so glad you could come.
He's over here.
Zaius crosses with them to Taylor's cage. Beneath his austere manner,
we sense tension, worry. Zira looks up at Taylor, her tone an appeal.
ZIRA
Bright Eyes, show him! Go ahead!
Do your trick!
Taylor just glares at her.
ZIRA
Speak! Go on. Speak again.
TAYLOR
(silent mouthing)
My - name - isn't - Bright Eyes It's
Taylor!
ZIRA
There! Can you believe it? I looks
like he's talking.
ZAIUS
(evenly)
Yes, amusing. A man who acts like an ape.
Taylor turns to Zaius.
TAYLOR
(silent mouthing)
I'm not acting! I can talk! How much
proof do you want?
ZIRA
(thunderstruck)
Dr. Zaius, I could have sworn he was
answering you!
ZAIUS
(nodding, but unmoved)
He shows a definite gift for mimicry.
Zira wiggles her fingers excitedly.
ZIRA
I wonder how held score on a Hopkins
manual dexterity test?
Zaius' voice is quiet, but there is steel in it.
ZAIUS
An animal?
JULIUS
Look!
Taylor is frantically wiggling his fingers.
ZIRA
He's moving his fingers!
ZAIUS
Of course. He saw you moving yours.
ZIRA
But perhaps he understood --
161-A CLOSE - TAYLOR
He is pleading silently as Zaius' voice is heard over the SHOT.
ZAIUS' VOICE
(o.s., hard)
Man has no understanding, Dr. Zira.
He can be taught a few simple tricks.
Nothing more.
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
I beg to disagree. According to my exper-
iments --
161-B CLOSE - ZAIUS
A warning burns out of his eyes as he stares at Taylor.
ZAIUS
A word to the wise, Dr. Zira. Experimental
brain surgery on these creatures is one
thing. I'm all for it.
161-C CLOSER - TAYLOR
Fear clouds his eyes. Abruptly, he stops moving his lips.
161-D MED. THE GROUP
Zaius sees the effect his words have had on Taylor. He turns to Zira,
goes on in a more detached tone.
ZAIUS
But your behavioral studies are another matter entirely. To suggest
that we can learn something about simian nature from a study of man is
nonsense. Besides, men are a nuisance. They outgrow their own food
supply in the forest and migrate to our green belts and ravage our
crops.
(looking casually
at Taylor)
The sooner they're exterminated, the better.
He turns toward the door. A disappointed Zira follows him. Zaius looks
back at Taylor just before going out.
ZAIUS
It's a question of simian survival.
161-E CLOSE - TAYLOR
He stares after Zaius, than looks away, slumps to the floor. A pause,
then a VOICE is heard.
APE GUARD
Is this the one you wanted, Doctor?
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Yes, thank you.
(pause, her voice
much closer)
Bright Eyes?
Taylor looks up.
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
I've got a present for you.
161-F ANOTHER ANGLE - THE CAGE
Standing outside the cage, held on a leash by an APE GUARD is Nova.
She looks at Taylor without expression. Zira gestures at JULIUS.
ZIRA
Put her in with him.
Julius unlocks the cage door-, leads Nova inside, removes her leash and
collar. Taylor has gotten to his feet. Julius goes out, locking the
door behind him. Nova hesitates, then slowly reaches out, takes
Taylor's hand. Zira beams at them.
162- OUT
169
DISSOLVE TO:
170 EXT.- EXERCISE YARD - ANIMAL COMPOUND - ESTABLISHING SHOT DAY
It is nothing elaborate, A wire fence encloses a dirt yard. This
compound is situated on the outskirts of Apetown and the town is
visible in the distance.
There are about a dozen adult human captives within the enclosure, no
more than a third of them females. Some of them trudge around the dusty
yard like convicts in a penitentiary. Others squat against the sun-
drenched wall.
A big male suddenly runs to the fence and tries to climb it. Several
guides, armed with whips and torches, immediately close in on him. The
primitive recoils in fear from a fiery torch and rejoins the captives'
circle.
171 CLOSER ANGLE - THE YARD - FEATURING TAYLOR
He plods sullenly back and forth across the rear of the yard,
occasionally glancing off toward the approaches to the compound. Nova
is at his heels. He ignores her. Once again he looks off, stops
suddenly. Nova bumps into him. He turns, impatiently shoos her away,
then looks o.s., again.
172 ZIRA AND COMPANION - TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
Zira can be seen approaching with a young chimpanzee, DR. CORNELIUS. He
wears a simple smock over his tunic and trousers. Cornelius glances
surreptitiously around, covertly takes Zira's hand.
CORNELIUS
Do you have to work tonight?
ZIRA
No.
CORNELIUS
Neither do I.
He gives her a quick peck on the cheek.
173 CLOSER - TAYLOR
He drifts toward the fence, Nova behind him.
174 MED. SHOT - ZIRA AND CORNELIUS
They come up to the fence. Zira nods toward Taylor.
ZIRA
That's Bright Eyes. The one I was telling
you about.
CORNELIUS
What's so special about him?
ZIRA
Watch.
(to Taylor)
Hello, Bright Eyes. How's our
throat today?
Taylor stares at her impassively, then looks around to a that no guards
are watching, hunkers down, begins to scratch in the dust. Nova extends
unclean fingers to touch the bandage on his throat. Taylor flinches,
pushes her hand away. Nova touches a bluish bruise on the inside of her
own forearm, then searches for a similar bruise on Taylor's forearm.
ZIRA
(excited)
Look -- she remembers.
CORNELIUS
Remembers what?
ZIRA
The blood transfusion.
CORNELIUS
(peeved)
Zira, come on. You know they
can't --
(he stops, looking off)
Oh oh. Here comes Number One.
Taylor looks up and o.s., quickly rises.
175 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE YARD - FEATURING DR. ZAIUS
Who is approaching the two scientists from deep b.g. Zaius is followed
by a huge and much decorated gorilla Whom we recognize as the Leader of
the Hunt Club.
ZIRA
(in a whisper, to
Cornelius)
Something's bothering him. He's
been prying around the lab for the last
two days ...
ZIRA
(as Zaius comes
nearer)
Good morning, Dr. Zaius. You know Dr.
Cornelius, my fiance.
Cornelius bows respectfully. Zaius is patronizingly polite.
ZAIUS
Oh, yes -- the young ape with
a shovel. I hear you're planning
another archeological expedition.
A-175 MED. SHOT - TAYLOR
He has stepped back from the marks he made in the-dust, is watching
Zaius with concern.
CORNELIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
Yes, sir. If the academy agrees.
ZAIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
The project will require my support, of
course.
176 MED. CLOSE SHOT - ANGLING DOWN ON TAYLOR AND NOVA
A primitive male squats down to see what Taylor has marked on the
ground. In letters a foot high he has written:
I CAN WRITE
Nova, at once petulant and playful, erases the WRITE with a bare foot.
Taylor angrily flings her aside. This violence provokes the primitive
male, who snarls at Taylor and cuffs him. Over this we HEAR from a
distance:
CORNELIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
I hope I can count on it, sir.
ZAIUS' VOICE
(o.s)
A friendly warning, Cornelius --
when you're digging for artifacts,
don't bury your reputation.
Taylor slugs the snarling male, who wades in, trying to bite him.
A VOICE
(o.s.)
Guards!
177 WIDER ANGLE - THE FIGHT
Two gorilla guards rush in to break up the fight. One of them lashes
out with his whip. The other pokes his torch at Taylor. Its flame
brushes his arm. Taylor opens his mouth, gives a silent yell of pain,
shrinks back. Zira runs to the fence.
ZIRA
(to guards)
Stop! You've hurt him! Take them inside!
Prodding the malcreants with their torches, the two guards herd them
toward a doorway in the wall. Zira hurries around the side of the fence
and o.s.
178 MED. SHOT - ZAIUS, CORNELIUS, HUNT CLUB LEADER
ZAIUS
Cornelius, if you have a moment today, I'd
like to discuss this expedition of yours
in more detail.
CORNELIUS
(eagerly)
Certainly, sir. I'll get my notes and come
right over.
He exits hurriedly. The Hunt Club Leader turns to Zaius.
HUNT CLUB LEADER
I don't understand these animal psychologists.
What's Dr. Zira trying to prove?
ZAIUS
That man can be domesticated.
The hunter guffaws. Zaius turns away and looks down at:
179 THE DUST UNDERFOOT
Just beyond the fence we can make out the letters:
I CAN
Zaius' extended foot appears beneath the bottom wire of the fence. The
foot wipes out the letters.
180 CLOSEUP - ZAIUS
His face is a mask.
181 INT. TAYLOR'S CAGE - MED. SHOT - DAY
He is slumped against the bars of the cell, gingerly touching a large,
reddening blotch on his arm. Julius watches him uncertainly from a few
yards away . In the b.g., the outside door opens and Zira rushes in,
hurries down the aisle.
JULIUS
What happened?
ZIRA
Those fools and their torches! Do you
have any ointment?
JULIUS
I'll see.
He moves to a cabinet at the other end of the laboratory, rummages
through some drawers.
182 MED. SHOT - ZIRA - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
Zira comes up to Taylor's cage, studies him solicitously.
ZIRA
I'm sorry, Bright Eyes.
183 ANOTHER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TAYLOR
He looks steadily at Zira, who is only an arm's length away. CAMERA
MOVES IN on them. Suddenly Taylor reaches out, snatching the pen and
notebook from the pocket of her smock. Zira leaps back with a cry.
Julius grabs a club, races up to the cage, unlocks the door.
JULIUS
I told you what you'd get!
184 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE THEM ALL
Taylor is scribbling furiously on a sheet of note paper. The guard
moves in, his club upraised.
ZIRA
(pleading)
Julius, don't. It doesn't matter.
Julius swings his-club at Taylor's head. Taylor lifts his right arm to
ward off the blow, and the stick strikes him sharply on the hand. He
drops the pen and notebook. The guard swings again, driving Taylor to
the wall. Then Julius retrieves the stolen articles.
185 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING ZIRA
The guard returns her pen and notebook with the comment:
JULIUS
Natural born thieves, aren't they?
Zira glances at the notebook. Her face clouds.
186 INSERT - WHAT SHE READS:
A hasty, almost illegible scrawl:
MY NAME IS TAYLOR.
187 CLOSEUP - ZIRA
Her eyes afire with a wild surmise.
188 TWO SHOT - ZIRA AND JULIUS
Her eyes never leave Taylor as she tells the guard:
ZIRA
Get me a collar and leash. I'm
taking him to the infirmary.
JULIUS
He's vicious, Doctor. Besides, it's
against the rules.
ZIRA
Do as I say.
The guard shrugs and moves Off 0.3. Zira beckons to Taylor. He comes
forward to the bars of the cage.
ZIRA
(sotto voce)
You wouldn't hurt me, would
you... Taylor?
189 INT. DR. CORNELIUS' OFFICE - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
The office is simple, almost Spartan. There are books but no bric-a-
brac; several painted portraits of Great Apes but no tape recorder or
other modern office equipment. Taylor sits at a desk, scribbling
furiously on a sheet of paper. His leash has been removed, but not his
collar. Zira stands at his elbow. Cornelius paces nervously up and
down, reading a sheaf of notes Taylor has already written.
CORNELIUS
(stubbornly)
It's a stunt. Humans don't write.
ZIRA
Dear, you're a scientist. Don't
you believe your own eyes?
CORNELIUS
(to Taylor)
Where did you learn to do this?
190 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE OFFICE
Taylor scribbles something on a small desk pad, rips off the page,
hands it to Cornelius.
CORNELIUS
Jefferson Public School, Fort Wayne,
Indiana?
He looks at Taylor narrowly. Taylor nods.
CORNELIUS
(sardonically)
Back on that planet you say you came from?
(Taylor nods again)
Um-hm.
(to Zira)
He may be intelligent, but he's also mad.
Taylor scribbles something else on the pad, hands it to Zira, points at
Cornelius.
ZIRA
(reads aloud)
'And you're a fool'.
She smiles. Cornelius bristles.
CORNELIUS
Now, just a minute --
ZIRA
Oh, Cornelius, be quiet.
Taylor has resumed writing. He hands the sheet to Zira, who reads
aloud.
ZIRA
'Dodge was killed in the hunt. What
happened to Landon?'
(looking at Taylor)
I don't know.
CORNELIUS
(scornfully)
And they fell out of the sky with you?
Taylor writes quickly, hands the note to Zira.
ZIRA
(reading)
'Not fell -- flew!'
Taylor impatiently begins to fold a sheet of paper.
CORNELIUS
Flight is a scientific impossibility.
ZIRA
And even if it weren't, why fly?
Where would it get you?
Taylor points to the floor and mouths the word "Here." He flings the
paper plane he has just fashioned into the air. It describes a graceful
arc around the room and lands at the feet of Cornelius, who slowly
picks it up, then exchanges a long glance with Zira.
CORNELIUS
(softly)
Well, now...
Taylor scribbles on a piece of paper, hands it to Zira.
ZIRA
(reading)
'Do you have maps?'
Cornelius puts the paper plane on his desk, crosses to a wall map
designed like a window shade. He pulls it down Taylor and Zira join him
at the map.
191 CLOSE ON MAP
It's not a map of the whole planet, of course, but only of that portion
known to the apes. Therefore it has the antique and fragmentary aspect
of a map drawn by some Babylonian cartographer.
A swatch of blue at the right margin indicates a sea. In the southwest
quadrant are the "greenbelts" of the ape civilization, looking on the
map like jade stones strung on crescent-shaped necklace. Rubyidots in
the lade indicate ape communities. The northwest quadrant, colored
brown, is apparently uninhabited. East of the green belts is a patch of
green savanna, and next to it the darker green of a jungle. The eastern
quadrants are rendered in yellow, and except for a blue lake, appear to
be lifeless desert and barren mountain. This area is marked FORBIDDEN
ZONE.
Using a pointer, Cornelius orients Taylor, indicating a red dot in the
middle of the green belt.
CORNELIUS
We are here ...
(moving pointer)
You were captured about here.
Taylor studies the map, then pointing at the lake in the eastern
desert, he goes into a brief charade, dramatizing the astronauts'
landing and trek.
ZIRA
(interpreting his
movements)
You fell in the water here? ... you came
ashore ... you marched across the desert ...
the mountains ... many days and nights ...
and reached the jungle.
Taylor nods, smiles gratefully.
CORNELIUS
(flatly)
Out - of - the - question!.
Taylor slams his fist against the wall in frustration.
ZIRA
(annoyed)
Cornelius, why do you insist on
provoking him?
CORNELIUS
(tapping map)
No creature can survive in that part of
the Forbidden Zone. I've been there. I've
seen it.
192 WIDER ANGLE - THE THREESOME
Taylor strides to the desk, writes something, hands it to Zira.
ZIRA
(reading)
'Then how do you account for me?,
CORNELIUS
I don't. And I'm not going to try.
ZIRA
But what about your theory? The existence
of someone like Taylor might prove it.
CORNELIUS
(shushing her)
Zira, are you trying to get my head cut
off?
ZIRA
Don't be foolish. If it's true, they'll
have to accept it.
CORNELIUS
No, they won't -
Taylor touches Zira on the arm, makes a gesture of inquiry.
ZIRA
Cornelius has developed a brilliant
hypothesis -
CORNELIUS
(quickly)
It's probably wrong --
ZIRA
-- that the ape evolved from a lower order
of primate, possibly man. In his trip to
the Forbidden Zone he discovered traces of a
culture older than recorded time -
CORNELIUS
The evidence was very meager --
ZIRA
You didn't think so then.
CORNELIUS
That was before Dr. Zaius and half the
Academy said the idea was heresy.
ZIRA
How can scientific truth be heresy? What
if Taylor is exactly the proof you needed?
A mutation. A missing link between the
unevolved primate and the ape -
Taylor bangs his fist on the desk, mouths the word "No!" scribbles
something on a piece of paper.
CORNELIUS
He's touchy, isn't he?
Taylor thrusts the sheet at Zira, who reads it aloud.
ZIRA
'I am not a missing link.'
CORNELIUS
Because if he is a missing link, it means
the Sacred Scrolls aren't worth their
parchment.
ZIRA
Well, maybe they're not.
CORNELIUS
No, thank you'. I won't get into
that battle.
ZIRA
Oh, Cornelius, show some strength!
CORNELIUS
Zira, listen to me. We've got a fine
future ahead of us. Marriage. Stimulating
careers. I'm up for a raise --
At that moment there is a. loud RAP at the door o.s. All turn.
193 REVERSE ANGLE - TO INCLUDE THE DOOR
Dr. Zaius enters with another portly figure, DR. MAXIMUS. Like Zaius.,
Maximus is an orangutan.
CORNELIUS
(flustered)
Dr. Zaius --
ZAIUS
(not unkindly)
Did you forget our appointment,
Cornelius?
CORNELIUS
Oh., no., sir. I was just assembling
my notes.
ZAIUS
You know Dr. Maximus, our Commissioner
for Animal Affairs?
CORNELIUS
Certainly, sir. It's a pleasure to see
you again.
He hurries to his desk, starts gathering papers. Maximus notes Taylor
with distaste.
MAXIMUS
What is that?
ZIRA
A man, Dr. Maximus.
MAXIMUS
I know it's a man. And you know the
rules. No animals outside the compound,
and most certainly not without a leash.
194 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE OFFICE - FAVORING ZAIUS
During the ensuing exchange, Zaius wanders idly through the office. He
glances at the scattered handwritten notes, but does not read them.
Meanwhile a rattled Zira replies to Maximus.
ZIRA
Yes, Sir. But this -- creature
is a special case.
MAXIMUS
Why special?
ZIRA
We're -- conducting a new experiment.
ZAIUS
Wouldn't it more properly be done in
your office?
ZIRA
Yes, Sir.
MAXIMUS
(calling)
Guards?
The gorilla GUARDS enter from outside.
MAXIMUS
Return this beast to the compound.
195 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING TAYLOR
He regards the apes with hostility as they cross to him. One picks up
his leash. Over THE SHOT we hear:
ZAIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
What's this?
196 REVERSE ANGLE - FEATURING ZAIUS
Zira stiffens, looking at Zaius. He is holding the paper plane
fashioned by Taylor.
ZIRA
A toy. It floats on the air.
(faint defiance)
Try it.
CORNELIUS
(a warning)
Zira....
Zaius looks down at the paper plane in his hand, then back to Zira. He
smiles tolerantly.
ZAIUS
Nonsense.
He crumples the paper plane into a b all., drops it on the desk. The
ape hooks the leash to Taylor's collar, starts leading him out. Zira
follows them.
DISSOLVE TO:
197 INT. CAGES - ANIMAL COMPOUND - FULL SHOT - DAY
The caged primitives are asleep. Julius, the keeper, dozes in a chair
outside Taylor's cage. CAMERA PIVOTS MOVING IN ON Taylor, who is lying
on his side, also asleep. Nova is curled up behind him. At the sound of
a door opening, she comes instantly awake, sitting up and clutching
Taylor's arm. He comes groggily awake, raising his head in time to
hear:
JULIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
What's up, Lieutenant?
198 REVERSE ANGLE - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:
TWO GORILLA OFFICERS have just entered the compound. They wear side
arms. Julius has just risen from his chair.
APE LIEUTENANT
We're taking Number Four over to surgery
in five minutes. Have him ready.
JULIUS
How come? The beast's throat is nearly
healed.
LIEUTENANT
(snickering)
It's not his throat this time. The vet's
going to geld him.
199 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR
He stiffens but does not move. The apes, of course, speak freely in
front of him, believing the animal cannot understand.
JULIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
Dr. Zira won't like it. She wants this
pair to mate.
200 BACK TO THE APES - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
As the Lieutenant replies:
LIEUTENANT
These orders came from Dr. Zaius himself.
There's nothing she can do about it.
The two gorillas exit. The guard crosses to a wall peg for a collar and
'Leash.
201 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA
Pushing Nova aside, Taylor rises.
202 MED. SHOT - THE CAGE
As Julius unlocks the door and cautiously approaches Taylor, carrying
the collar and leash.
JULIUS
(murmuring)
If only you knew, Bright Eyes, what
they're going to do ...
(raising collar)
Stand still now...don't give me any
trouble.
The heel of Taylor's right palm crashes into the keeper's, chin, nearly
snapping his neck. Julius falls unconscious. Taylor leans over him,
taking his night stick and a set of keys on his belt.
203 REVERSE ANGLE - TO INCLUDE NOVA AND MALE IN ADJACENT CAGE
The male has awakened. He stares stupidly at Taylor. Nova is
whimpering, little strange cries of fear. Taylor moves o.s.
204 ANOTHER ANGLE - PANNING WITH TAYLOR
He leaves the cage, moves swiftly to the nearby door and exits.
205 INT. A DARK CORRIDOR - FULL SHOT - DAY
Barefoot, Taylor silently pads down the corridor to a locked door.
206 CLOSE ON A DOOR
Which is visible because of a beam of sunlight from the half-open door
of a guard room. We HEAR a murmur of ape voices and LAUGHTER. Taylor
fumbles with the keys, finds one that fits the lock and opens the door.
207 EXT. ANIMAL COMPOUND - MED. SHOT - TAYLOR - DAY
He emerges, quietly locking the door behind him. Two tethered horses
can be seen in deep b.g., and another gust of LAUGHTER can be heard
from the nearby guard room. Taylor looks off.
208 LONG SHOT - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:
As already established, the animal compound is situated on the
outskirts of the apes' community. The strange skyline of the town can
be seen in the distance.
209 PANNING WITH TAYLOR
He starts to cross an open field outside the compound. At that moment
we HEAR a shrill police WHISTLE from the guard room. Taylor breaks into
a run.
210 REVERSE ANGLE - THE COMPOUND
As the two gorilla officers emerge from the building and run toward
their horses.
211 EXT. A DIRT ROAD - LONG SHOT - TAYLOR
He runs down the road, starts across the long causeway that bisects a
small lake, looking over his shoulder.
QUICK DISSOLVE TO:
212 EXT. APETOWN - LONG ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
The community we sue at the end of the causeway is small and arcane.
There are no power lines, no street lamps -- indeed, no streets as
such, but only a small cluster of buildings around a pleasant mall. The
architecture of the buildings is faintly derivative of the simpler and
less rococo work of Antonio Gaudi -- columns and pillars of brick or
exterior masonry look like the trunks and branches of great trees and
suggest an arboreal past.
A small number of apes are visible on the mall:
Taylor darts behind the buttress of a building, casing the situation.
He looks back at:
213 EXT. LAKE AND CAUSEWAY - LONG SHOT - MORNING
The two mounted gorilla-police can be seen on the causeway, galloping
straight toward CAMERA. It is evident they will soon spot Taylor.
214 BACK TO TAYLOR - CLOSE SHOT
He retreats from the buttress to a dark archway and vanishes inside the
building.
215 INT. A DARK VESTIBULE - MOVING WITH TAYLOR
The vestibule is nothing, no set required, a dark space through which
Taylor moves toward a shaft of light. We HEAR faintly the discordant
chords of an organ. Or is it an organ? At any rate,a strange and
melancholy tune. Taylor arrives at a font.
216 INT. A TEMPLE - PANNING WITH TAYLOR
He appears out of darkness into half-light. The rear of the temple is
obscure. Taylor darts behind a screen. Crouching there, he observes:
217 A FUNERAL CEREMONY IN THE TEMPLE - MED. LONG SHOT
The temple itself is small and austere. There is no altar, but against
a plain backdrop we see a statue of the Lawgiver, a Great Ape holding a
book. Below the Lawgiver is an ORANGUTAN MINISTER clothed in black
robes. He stands in front of a closed coffin. A dozen mourners, seated
on comfortable wicker chairs, form a semi-circle around the coffin. The
ape ladies wear cowls.
MINISTER
Weep if you must, but make an end of
sorrow. He lives again. Yes, he has
found peace in Heaven.
218 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR
Crouching, listening, wide-eyed.
MINISTER'S VOICE
(o.s.)
He was a model for us all, a gorilla to
remember; hunter, warrior, defender of
the Faith.
219 BACK TO FUNERAL CEREMONY - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
As the minister continues his eulogy, a small ape boy detaches himself
(as children will) from the group of mourners and comes marching up the
aisle toward the rear of the temple.
MINISTER
Cherished husband, beloved father,
generous master -- yes, he was a font
of simian kindness.
220 REVERSE ANGLE - SHOOTING AT TAYLOR
Who is still crouching behind the screen in deep b.g. The small fry is
coming closer. Over this we hear:
MINISTER'S VOICE
(o.s.)
The dear departed once said to me:
'I never met an ape I didn't like'...
The small fry spots Taylor.
CHILD
(shrill soprano)
Look!. It's a man!
The mourners' heads turn. Taylor slinks toward the vestibule.
221 ANOTHER ANGLE - FEATURING THE MINISTER
He is aghast.
MINISTER
In Heaven's name ...
(aside to ushers)
Get rid of that creature.
Two ushers rise, moving past CAMERA and o.s.
222 EXT. TEMPLE - CLOSE ON VESTIBULE DOOR
Staying close on the temple wall, Taylor moves stealthily away from the
vestibule door. The two ape ushers appear.
FIRST USHER
(pointing)
There he is:
They move toward Taylor.
223 FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR
He runs out onto the mall.
224 FULL SHOT - THE MALL
Taylor belatedly sees that he is running straight toward his two
mounted pursuers. Darting off in another direction, he races past
startled pedestrians.
225 REACTION SHOT - TWO CHIMP PEDESTRIANS
They do a slow take.
FIRST CHIMP
You see what I saw?
SECOND CHIMP
Must've escaped from the zoo.
226 MED. SHOT - A MOUNTED COP
He has spotted Taylor. Drawing a folded net from his saddlebag, he
swings it overhead (like a cowboy with a lariat) and gallops off in
pursuit of the man.
227- SEVERAL SHOTS - TAYLOR AND PURSUING MOUNTIE
231
Taylor runs frantically from building to building, rounding corners,
vanishing momentarily and reappearing on another part of the mall. At
one point the mountie nearly overtakes him and flings his net, which
falls short. Taylor runs on.
232 EXT. AN AMPHITHEATER - LOW ANGLE SHOT (FROM GROUND LEVEL)
It is an open-air structure, like a Greek theater, located near the
central mail. Steeply tiered, it seats no more than fifty apes. The
dais in the pit is some fifteen feet above ground level.
Taylor enters scene, running toward the amphitheater. Changing
direction, he darts into what appears to be an access tunnel. A moment
later the pursuing cop rides into' scene, dismounts and walks toward
the amphitheater, looking around for Taylor.
233 EXT. AMPHITHEATER - HIGH ANGLE SHOT (FROM TOPMOST TIER)
Taylor suddenly emerges from the access tunnel and runs up a ramp
encircling the amphitheater. (A retaining wall shields him from the
view of the apes.) Pausing for breath at the top of the ramp, Taylor
crouches behind the uppermost tier of seats and peers down:
THE AMPHITHEATER - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
The cop looks around, spots Taylor at the top tier, and starts up after
him.
235- OUT
237
238 EXT. TOP OF AMPHITHEATER - PANNING WITH TAYLOR
He starts to run back down the ramp, but is suddenly confronted by his
original pursuer (the dismounted cop coming up the ramp. Reversing
direction, Taylor runs around the rim of the amphitheater and vanishes
into an exit tunnel. The cop blows his whistle, summoning another cop,
who joins him in the chase.
239- ANOTHER PART OF THE MALL - A SWIFT SEQUENCE OF SHOTS
244
In which we see the fugitive, his pursuers and the reactions of ape
shoppers and workers.
245- EXT. OPEN-AIR MARKET - SEVERAL SHOTS
248
A market has been set up on one side of the mall, where street vendors
behind carts or tables hawk their wares: fruits, vegetables, wearing
apparel, etc. As Taylor runs frantically through the market place,
several apes join the chase. In the ensuing pandemonium, like the
proverbial Chinese fire drill, several tables are overturned.
249 EXT. A BUILDING - CLOSE ON AN ARCHWAY
Taylor runs into scene, pauses, panting, and looks back at his
pursuers. Then he darts through the archway into the building.
250 INT. BUILDING - TRACKING WITH TAYLOR - DAY
For the moment he is the sole visitor in this wing. His pace slows to a
walk as he and we observe fleetingly the specimens in what is a simian
museum: Possibly several stuffed and unfamiliar animals; primitive
artifacts and fossils; possibly the skeleton of a dog, a cat, etc. Over
this we hear a shrill police WHISTLE.
251 FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR
He runs again.
252 MED. SHOT - AN APE MOTHER AND CHILD
Looking at the stuffed animals as Taylor races past. The mother gives a
startled SCREAM.
253 REACTION SHOT - A MUSEUM GUARD
He starts after the fugitive.
254 ANOTHER PART OF THE MUSEUM - FEATURING TAYLOR
He runs past displays of other stuffed animals toward CAMERA and halts
abruptly in close f.g., shocked by:
255 WHAT HE SEES: DODGE
stuffed and mounted, Dodge bares his teeth at the world.
256 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR
Reacting in horror. He hears another police WHISTLE and the echoing
FOOTSTEPS of approaching guards, which mufffle his strangled gasp:
TAYLOR
Dodge ...
Taylor vanishes in a BLUR of movement.
CUT TO:
257 EXT. THE MALL - APETOWN - FULL SHOT FROM ON HIGH - DAY
Order has been restored in the open-air market. Taylor bursts suddenly
into view from a building on the far side of the mall, running in panic
from ape guards in close pursuit. A mounted policeman spots him and
heads him off. Changing direction, Taylor is intercepted by another
mounted Gorilla. And then a third.
CAMERA HOLDS, ANGLING DOWN on the center of the mall. We are witnessing
a hideous game: "baiting the man." The mounted police do not shoot or
club Taylor, for he cannot escape -- but they circle him, their long
whips CRACKING over his head.
258 CLOSER ANGLE - THE CIRCLE AROUND TAYLOR - FAVORING A MOUNTIE
who unfolds his net, swings it overhead and flings it at Taylor. This
time he bags his quarry. Taylor gives up. Spent, docile, entangled in
the net, he stands stock-still in the center of the mall. Guards and
civillians on foot join the circle around the man at bay. They regard
him warily.
259 CLOSE SHOT - DR. ZIRA
She pushes through the simian crowd around Taylor and hurries to his
side.
260 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND ZIRA
She paws at the net, crying impulsively:
ZIRA
Taylor, why'd you run away?
Zira removes the net from his face. Panting with exhaustion, Taylor
flicks a wild glance at her. He looks demented.
261 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TWO GORILLA OFFICERS
who approach Taylor and Zira. (They are the same gorillas introduced in
Scene 198.) One of them carries a collar and leash. The other presents
an I.D. card to Zira.
LIEUTENANT
Security police.
ZIRA
(promptly)
I'm in charge of this man.
LIEUTENANT
No longer, madame. He is now in the
custody of the Ministry of Science.
His colleague moves toward Taylor with a muzzle.
262 CLOSE SHOT - FEATURING TAYLOR
He speaks at last, his voice hoarse but audible.
TAYLOR
Get away from me, you dirty ape!
263 FULL SHOT - THE SIMIANS AROUND TAYLOR
The arresting officer steps back involuntarily. All the apes freeze,
staring at the speaking animal with mute astonishment as we:
FADE OUT
FADE IN
264 INT. CAGES - CLOSE SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - DAY
The compound is dimly lit. Taylor, the bandage now gone from his
throat, is back in his old cage. The other cages, however, are empty --
their occupants presumably having been moved to the surgery or the zoo.
He is seated on a pile of straw in the rear corner, Nova's head cradled
on his lap. Idly he strokes her coarse hair. There is a dull glow of
madness in his eyes, and his manner is one of abstract soliloquy, like
a man talking to a dog.
TAYLOR
...and that's when I decided to take
up astronautical engineering., you see. I
was halfway through college and I...
(he breaks off)
It's an old trick! The silent treatment.
Four weeks and three days, and not a word
from anyone. Not Zira.,or Cornelius...or
that damn Julius. No one'll listen...
only you. You...Nova. NO-VAH.
His manner is now more direct, and educative., but she stares in blank
comprehension. She brushes his moving lips with her fingers. He shrugs
wryly.
TAYLOR
Yeah...me Tarzan, you Jane. That's all
right ... I had a puppy once that never
barked. He just licked my hand.
(pause)
He's dead now. They're all dead. Everything...
I think maybe they'll kill me, too. Are they
afraid of me? I can't hurt them... but I
threaten them somehow. Threaten their faith
in simian superiority. Yeah ... you're right.
They'll have to kill me.
Faint footsteps are heard o.s. Taylor and Nova look in the direction of
the sound. A sudden stream of water shoots through the bars and strikes
Taylor in the chest.
265 WIDER ANGLE - WHAT THEY SEE:
An ape GUARD has a high pressure hose trained on Taylor. It forces him
back toward the rear of the cage. Julius, whip in hand, unlocks the
cage, steps inside. He unlimbers the whip., cracks it-'in Nova's
direction. She recoils. The jet of water hold Taylor at bay. Julius
grabs Nova, begins to pull her toward the door of the cage. Taylor
tries to fight his way through the water toward Julius.
TAYLOR
Let her alone!
Julius swings the whip. It cracks against Taylor's legs, biting into
the skin. Taylor stumbles, falls to one knee
TAYLOR
Where are you taking her? What are you
going to do?
Julius drags and pushes the girl through the door, slamming and locking
it behind him. Taylor, fights through the stream of water, flings
himself against the bars.
TAYLOR
(raging)
Take your hands off her, you black
monster! You filth!
Julius shoves Nova across the aisle to a cage opposite Taylor's, locks
her inside.
TAYLOR
Why are you doing this? Say something,
you hairy scum!
Julius gestures toward the ape guard
JULIUS
Turn it off!
The ape guard shuts off the hose.
TAYLOR
Answer me!
Julius strides over to Taylor's cage.
JULIUS
(fiercely)
Shut up! The reason no one'll talk to
you is because you're a freak!
TAYLOR
Where's Dr. Zira? Why--?
JULIUS
I said shut up!
He slashes viciously with his whip handle against Taylor's fingers.
Taylor yells in pain. Julius and the ape guard start out of the
compound.
TAYLOR
(wildly)
Ape! Apes wearing clothes!
It's a madhouse! A madhouse!
He sinks to the floor as the apes go out.
266 OUT
267 FULL SHOT - CAGE
Taylor looks desolately through the bars across to Nova's cage. She
eyes him sadly.
TAYLOR
(gently)
Now I don't even have you.
(pause)
Imagine me -- needing someone. Back on
Earth there was nobody. Women, yes.
Lots of them. Love making ithout love.
That's the kind of world it was turning
into, with the help of cynics like myself.
So I left it -- because there was no one
dear enough to keep me there.
(pause)
Did I tell you about Stewart?
(Looking away)
There was a lovely girl. The most precious
cargo we brought along. If human life could
survive here, she was to be the new Eve.
(morosely)
It's probably just as well she didn't live
to see this.
He looks at Nova. She stretches her hands through the bars toward him.
TAYLOR
I wonder if it's Love between us.
(looks around,
smiles ironically)
What a place to find it.
C-267 FULL SHOT - THE CAGE
Two gorilla officers enter, carrying torches. (These are the same apes
introduced in Scene 198.) One carries a double set of manacles. Julius
comes to meet them. The Lieutenant takes the two sets of manacles from
the other officer, hands them to Julius, whispers something. Julius
comes over and unlocks the door of Taylor's cage. He advances to
Taylor, who does not move, bends down and clamps the manacles around
each of his ankles. Then he straightens, lifts Taylor's arms, pulls his
wrists together, snaps on the cuffs.
D-267 WIDER ANGLE - THE CAGE
Taylor looks across at Nova, blows her a kiss. Julius leads him out of
the cage, takes his leash from a snaps it onto Taylor's collar, hands
the other end to the Lieutenant. Nova and Julius watch in silence as
Taylor is led down the aisle and out the door.
268- OUT
272
DISSOLVE TO:
273 INT. INQUIRY ROOM - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
Taylor, wearing his manacles, is seated at a table in the otherwise
deserted chamber. There is an empty chair on either side of him. Across
the room stands a dais with three rude, high-backed chairs. There is a
small table directly below the dais. A third table stands at right
angles to the dais. Taylor looks around the empty room. A door is
opened by a gorilla BAILIFF, and Zira and Cornelius come into the room,
sit down on each side of Taylor. A moment later, DR.HONORIUS, the
Prosecutor and a CLERK enter, take their seats at the third table.
TAYLOR
(softly)
Where have you been? Why didn't you come
to see me?
ZIRA
Shhhh!
TAYLOR
What is this?
ZIRA
A hearing.
CORNELIUS
(hissing)
Be clever. Be quiet,
BAILIFF
All rise!
Everyone gets up as THE PRESIDENT, Dr. Zaius and Dr. Maximus enter and
mount the dais. The President takes the center chair; the other two
flanking him.
BAILIFF
Be seated.
All sit down.
PRESIDENT
(pounds gavel once)
This ad hoc Tribunal of the National
Academy is now in session. President of
the Academy presiding. On my right, Dr.
Maximus, Commissioner for Animal Affairs.
On my left, Dr. Zaius, Minister of Science
and Chief Defender of the Faith...
(glancing at Prosecutor)
Appearing for the State, Dr. Honorius,
Deputy Minister of Justice.
Honorius rises and bows.
PRESIDENT
(raps gavel once)
Let it be clear at the outset that all
matters pertaining to this inquiry are
confidential, and anyone discussing them
outside this chamber will be held in
contempt of the Tribunal.
(a beat)
You may proceed, Dr. Honorius.
ZIRA
(rising)
By your leave, Mr. President -- the
Tribunal has not yet defined the purpose
of this inquiry.
The President appears to be taken aback. He glances at his colleagues.
MAXIMUS
You asked for the opportunity to present
your case. Surely you must know why you're
here.
ZIRA
My own purpose is to save this exceptional
creature from mutilation.
MAXIMUS
(promptly)
And our purpose is to settle custodial and
jurisdictional questions concerning this
beast, and determine what's to be done with
him.
ZIRA
At the very least, this man has the right
to know whether there's a charge against
him.
HONORIUS
(rising)
Objection. The accused is indeed a man.
Therefore, he has no rights under ape law.
PRESIDENT
Well, Dr. Zira? This is a man, is he not?
274 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE DEFENDANT'S TABLE
Sensing that the President has given them an opening, Zira smiles
confidently.
ZIRA
He is unlike any man you have ever seen -
as we hope to prove.
PRESIDENT'S VOICE
(o.s.)
Answer the question. Is he a man?
CORNELIUS
(tentatively)
Sir? The question is the point at issue:
Is he a man? Or a deviate? Or a freak of
nature?
HONORIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
Objection!
275 FULL SHOT - THE INQUIRY ROOM
As the Prosecutor continues:
PRESIDENT
Sustained. In all fairness, Dr. Zira,
you must admit the accused is a nonape,
and therefore has no rights under ape law.
ZIRA
(rising)
Then why is he called the accused Your
Honors must think him guilty of something.
Honorius seems confounded. Zaius takes over.
ZAIUS
This man is not being tried. He is being
disposed of.
(pointing at
Zira and Cornelius)
It is scientific heresy that is actually
on trial here.
MAXIMUS
Well put, Dr. Zaius. Let us warn
our friends that they endanger their
own careers by defending this animal.
276 CLOSE SHOT - THE DEFENSE
Both Cornelius and Zira appear shaken by this threat. Sensing their
predicament, Taylor rises impatiently.
TAYLOR
Then I'll defend myself.
277 FULL SHOT - THE INQUIRY ROOM
Although the judges and Prosecutor have been told that this man can
speak, they react in stunned silence to the first sound of his voice.
Flustered, the President bangs his gavel.
PRESIDENT
Dr. Zira -- tell Bright Eyes to
sit down.
TAYLOR
My name is Taylor.
The President refuses to address Taylor directly. Checking a document,
he speaks to Zira.
PRESIDENT
It says here that his name is Bright
Eyes. You gave him that name yourself.
TAYLOR
(voice rising)
This hearing is absurd! Let me tell
my story...
PRESIDENT
(pounds gavel)
Bailiff! Make the animal be quiet.
The Bailiff quickly crosses to Taylor and shoves him roughly into his
chair.
PRESIDENT
State your case, Mr. Prosecutor.
HONORIUS
Learned Judges: My case is simple. It is
based on our first Article of Faith: that
the Almighty created the ape in his own
image; that He gave him a soul and a mind;
that He set him apart from the beasts of
the jungle, and made him the lord of the
planet.
278 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE DEFENDANT'S TABLE
Taylor has begun to write something on a sheet of paper. Zira and
Cornelius remain attentive to:
HONORIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
These sacred truths are self-evident. The
proper study of apes is apes. But certain
young cynics have chosen to study man -
yes, perverted scientists who advance on
insidious theory called 'evolution.'
279 FULL SHOT - THE INQUIRY ROOM
As the Prosecutor continues:
HONORIUS
There is a conspiracy afoot to undermine
the very cornerstone of our Faith
PRESIDENT
Come to the point, Dr. Honorius.
HONORIUS
Directly, Mr. President. This wretched man,
the accused, is only a pawn in the conspiracy.
We know that he was wounded in the throat at
the time of his capture. The State charges
that Dr. Zira and a corrupt surgeon named
Galen experimented on this wounded animal,
tampering with his brain and throat tissues
to create a speaking monster ...
ZIRA
(on her feet)
ThatŐs a lie!
PRESIDENT
(pounding gavel)
Mind your tongue, madame.
ZIRA
Did we create his mind too? Not only
can this man speak. He can write. He can
reason.
HONORIUS
He can reason? With the Tribunal's permission,
let me expose this hoax by direct examination.
PRESIDENT
Proceed. But don't turn this hearing into a
farce.
Honorius crosses to the defendant's table and favors Taylor with an
evil smile.
HONORIUS
Tell the court, Bright Eyes -- what is
the second Article of Faith?
TAYLOR
I admit, I know nothing of your culture.
HONORIUS
Of course he doesn't know our culture -
because he cannot think.
(to Taylor)
Tell us why all apes are created equal.
TAYLOR
Some apes, it seems, are more equal than
others.
HONORIUS
Ridiculous. That answer is a contradiction
in terms. Tell us, Bright Eyes, why do men
have no souls? What is the proof that a
divine spark exists in the simian brain?
TAYLOR
(hands paper to Zira)
Show this to the President.
Zira moves toward the dais. Honorius returns to his own table.
ZIRA
Since the defendant is forbidden to speak
in his own defense, he asks that this
statement be read into the record.
PRESIDENT
Read it yourself.
ZIRA
(reading aloud)
'I have come to you from a planet in a
different solar system. I am an explorer
in space, with no hostile intentions against
your civilization. On my planet it was the
primate Man who evolved Into a thinking
animal, while the apes remained..."
PRESIDENT
(rapping gavel)
Stop right there. Bring me that paper.
Zira crosses to the dais, handing the statement to the President. He
glances at it, laughs derisively and passes it to Zaius.
PRESIDENT
(to Zira)
This is a joke in very poor taste.
ZIRA
Is it a joke to seek the truth about
this man?
ZAIUS
(glancing at document)
Dr. Zira -- you state here that a ship
from outer space sank in an inland sea
of our eastern desert.
ZIRA
I do not state it, sir. The prisoner does.
ZAIUS
Do you believe him?
ZIRA
(uneasily)
Like you, I find it difficult.
ZAIUS
But how convenient that the proof of
his arrival has vanished?
(glancing again
at document)
You also state that Bright Eyes had two
intelligent companions at the time of
his capture.
ZIRA
This is his assertion.
ZAIUS
Where are they now?
TAYLOR
(blurting it out)
One is in a museum!
PRESIDENT
(pounding gavel)
Dr. Zira! Silence that man!
Returning to her table, Zira gestures to Taylor to remain silent.
ZAIUS
How sad. Stuffed and mounted, eh? Dead
men, like sunken ships, can tell no
stories. And his other companion?
ZIRA
He doesn't know.
ZAIUS
Mr. President, I believe the Prosecutor
has reassembled all he surviving humans
captured in the hunt along with Bright Eyes.
HONORIUS
That's true, Dr. Zaius. My witnesses --
correction -- my exhibits are on display in
the amphitheater.
PRESIDENT
Very well. I suggest we go and look at them.
The President rises, starts out, followed by the others. Taylor is
last, being led on a leash by the bailiff.
280 OUT
281 EXT. AMPHITHEATER - FULL SHOT - DAY
The inquiry group files through a door into the amphitheater. Two APES
stand guard over a number of leashed and nearly naked human beings in
the center of the pit below the dais. There are three primitive males,
the female Nova -- and Landon. He is dirty and bearded, but his hair is
cropped close.
282 CLOSE - TAYLOR
He turns to Zira, his eyes shining with vindication.
TAYLOR
(a whisper)
It's him...Landon.
ZIRA
Which one?
TAYLOR
Second from the left.
283 FULL SHOT - THE AMPHITHEATER
Zaius glances at the accused.
ZAIUS
Well...do you acknowledge kinship with
any of these creatures?
TAYLOR
With one of them.
ZAIUS
Identify him, then. Speak to him.
Taylor moves forward for a few paces, stops.
TAYLOR
Landon?
284 CLOSER SHOT - FEATURING LANDON - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
Landon looks catatonic. His face is in shadow
285 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TAYLOR
Stunned by Landon's imbecility.
TAYLOR
John ... it's me, Taylor.
Taylor steps forward to grasp his arm. There is still no response.
Taylor takes Landon's head in his hands and looks at his face. There is
a fresh scar running from his forehead to the top of his cranium.
286 FULL SHOT - THE AMPHITHEATER
As Taylor whirls on Zira.
TAYLOR
You! ... You knew about this?
ZIRA
No, I swear -- I never saw this
man before.
TAYLOR
(whirling on Zaius)
You did this to him! You've removed his
frontal lobes!
PRESIDENT
Silence!
(turning)
Bailiff, take the prisoner inside!
The bailiff Jerks brutally on Taylor's leash, pulling him toward the
door leading under the amphitheater.
A-286 INT. INQUIRY ROOM - MED. SHOT - DAY
The bailiff enters, dragging Taylor behind him, shoves him into his
chair. Moments later the other apes enter the room. All take their
seats but Zaius. Taylor glares at him furiously.
ZAIUS
(calmly)
Mr. President, a word of explanation: the
creature in question suffered a skull
fracture during the hunt. Two fine
veternary surgeons under my direction
were able to save his life. But the beast
could not speak, of course. Nor will he
ever speak
Taylor leaps from his chair, livid with rage, approaches the dais.
TAYLOR
You destroyed his memory! His mind! His
identity! And, you want to do the same to
me!
PRESIDENT
(pounding gavel)
Bailiff! Stop this outburst! Gag that
monstrosity!
The bailiff and a husky guard seize Taylor, who continues shouting:
TAYLOR
You barbarians!
The powerful guard twists Taylor's arms behind his back and the bailiff
lashes his wrists together. Then the bailiff gags Taylor. His voice is
cut off as the bailiff ties the twisted kerchief around his open mouth.
The guard holds Taylor's leash during the rest of this scene.
Meanwhile, Cornelius has risen to his feet. His tone is firm, but
conciliatory.
CORNELIUS
May it please the Tribunal: I for one
grant that this being cannot have come
from another planet. But this much is
certain -- he comes from somewhere in the
Forbidden Zone. He has described the region
to us, and described it accurately, for I
have been there.
PRESIDENT
You visited the Forbidden Zone?
CORNELIUS
Why, yes, sir. A year ago. With the special
permission of the Academy.
ZAIUS
(to President)
He exceeded his orders. His travel permit
was promptly revoked.
CORNELIUS
Yes, sir, so it was -- thanks to you. But
not before I discovered evidence of a simian
culture that existed long before the Sacred
Scrolls were written ...
HONORIUS
Objection! These remarks are profane and irrelevant.
PRESIDENT
Sustained.
(to Cornelius)
Your archeological theories have no bearing
on the disposition of this creature.
ZAIUS
(softly)
Let them talk, Mr President. Let them talk.
ZIRA
(rising)
Sirs: our theories have a bearing on his
identity.
PRESIDENT
How so?
ZIRA
Let us assume, as common sense dictates,
that the prisoner's story is false. But if
he does not come from another planet, then
surely he sprang from our own. Yes, sprang.
(a beat)
As an animal psychologist, I have found no
physiological defect to explain why humans
are mute.
HONORIUS
Objection!
PRESIDENT
Sustained.
ZIRA
(plunging on)
Their speech organs are adequate. The flaw
lies not in anatomy but in the brain.
HONORIUS
Objection!
PRESIDENT
Sustained.
ZIRA
(voice rising)
Sustain all objections, but face the truth!
Cornelius has regained his courage. Rising to Zira's support, he points
at Taylor.
CORNELIUS
Yes! Behold this marvel, this living paradox,
this missing link in an evolutionary chain!
PRESIDENT
(pounding gavel)
Silence!
(Puffing with rage)
You have gone too far.
ZAIUS
(calmly)
There you are, Mr. President. I warned you
these two would use this hearing as a forum
for subversion.
MAXIMUS
You were right! The advocates of heresy have
revealed themselves.
ZAIUS
Mr. President, I think an indictment is
in order.
HONORIUS
(promptly)
Yes, sir. The State charges Doctors Zira
and Cornelius with contempt of this Tribunal,
malicious mischief and scientific heresy.
PRESIDENT
Be it so ordered. The Tribunal will examine
all the evidence presented here and in due
time render a verdict on the proposed
indictment and on the disposition of the
deviate in question.
(pounds gavel once)
This hearing is adjourned.
All rise. The guard drags Taylor from the inquiry room. Zira and
Cornelius stand there, stunned by the entrapment into which Zaius has
maneuvered them.
287-
289 OUT
DISSOLVE TO:
290 INT. A SMALL OFFICE - CLOSE ON DR. ZAIUS - NIGHT
The office is as unadorned and Spartan as that of Cornelius -- in
fact, with minor changes in decor, the same set can be used. There are
many thick leatherbound books on this scholar's desk. Zaius is reading
one of them and taking notes. He looks up as someone KNOCKS at the
door.
291 REVERSE ANGLE - SHOOTING PAST ZAIUS
The two agents push Taylor through the doorway.
ZAIUS
Wait outside.
The officers withdraw, closing the door. Collared, wrists manacled,
Taylor stands facing the desk.
ZAIUS
The verdict is in. At the moment your
simian friends -- and sponsors -- are
free on bail. But they'll soon be brought
to trial for heresy.
292 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING ZAIUS
who falls silent, as if this were the only news of import. We note at
once a change In Zaius' tone and attitude. He no longer treats Taylor
like a freak animal, but addresses him as an imaginative adversary who
must be intimidated by the threat of terror.
TAYLOR
What about me?
ZAIUS
(offhandedly)
Oh, your case was preordained. In a way,
you performed a service for the State ...
(smiling)
Because your hearing made it possible
for us to expose Zira and Cornelius.
(a beat)
And now the Tribunal has placed you in
my custody for...final disposition. Do
you know what that means?
TAYLOR
No.
ZAIUS
Emasculation, to begin with. Then
experimental surgery. On the speech
centers. On the brain. Ultimately, a
kind of living death.
Taylor stiffens but says nothing. Zaius lets this prospect sink in,
then continues.
ZAIUS
However, it's within my power to grant
You a reprieve. That is why I summoned
you here tonight.
(a beat)
Tell me who and what you really are and
where you come from, and no veterinary
will touch you.
TAYLOR
I told the truth at that 'hearing'of yours.
ZAIUS
You lied. Where is your tribe?
TAYLOR
My tribe, as you call it, lives on another
planet in a distant solar system.
ZAIUS
Then how is it we speak the same language?
(suddenly intense)
Even in your lies, some truth slips
through! That mythical community you're
supposed to come from -- Fort Wayne'?
TAYLOR
What about it?
ZAIUS
A fort! Unconsciously, you chose a name
that was belligerent.
(more calmly)
Where were you nurtured?
TAYLOR
I take it you don't believe the prosecutor's
charge -- that I'm a monster created by
Dr. Zira.
ZAIUS
Certainly not. You're a mutant.
TAYLOR
That's exactly what Zira and Cornelius
claim. You're talking heresy, doctor.
ZAIUS
(smiling)
Of course.
TAYLOR
(growing bolder)
All right, suppose I am a mutant? Why
does the appearance of one mutant send
you into a panic?
ZAIUS
Because you're not unique. There was the
one you call Landon --
TAYLOR
Then you admit --
ZAIUS
I admit that where there's one mutant there's
probably another. And another. A nest of them.
Where's your nest, Taylor? Where are your women?
TAYLOR
(pause)
Thank you for calling me Taylor.
(more firmly)
Dr. Zaius, I know who I am. Who are you? How
did this upside down civilization ever get
started?
ZAIUS
(strangely calm)
You may well call it upside down, since you
occupy its lowest level. And deservedly.
(pause)
The eastern desert has never been explored --
because we've always assumed that no life can
exist there.
(a beat)
Save yourself, Taylor. Tell me -- is there
another jungle beyond the Forbidden Zone?
TAYLOR
I don't know.
ZAIUS
If you are protecting others of your kind,
it will cost you your identity.
TAYLOR
I'm not protecting anybody! That hearing
was a farce. What have I done?
ZAIUS
You're a menace! A walking pestilence. I
do know who you are, Taylor. As I know
that others of your kind must live in the
Forbidden Zone.
(decisively)
You have just six hours to make a full
confession. After that I'll employ surgery
to obtain one.
(calling off)
Guards!
The two burly security agents open the door and enter.
ZAIUS
Take this creature back to his cage.
The guards seize Taylor, start to shove him toward the doorway. He
twists around, faces Zaius.
TAYLOR
All right, you can cut me to pieces. It's
within your power.
(with force)
But know this, doctor. You do it because
you're afraid of me. You do it from fear!
Zaius jerks his head silently toward the door. The apes drag Taylor
through it.
DISSOLVE TO:
293 INT. ADJACENT CAGES - MED. SHOT - NIGHT
A few hours have passed. Nova is watching Taylor from her cage across
the aisle. He sits on the pile of straw. There is an ugly welt on his
cheek made by the security officer's whip. FOOTSTEPS are heard. Taylor
and Nova look up and off.
294 REVERSE ANGLE - WHAT THEY SEE:
A solemn, teen-age chimp named LUCIUS appears outside the cage. The
guard Julius rises from his chair.
LUCIUS
Are you Julius?
JULIUS
What do you want?
LUCIUS
I'm from the Office of Animal Affairs.
(indicating Taylor)
This male's to be transferred to the zoo.
JULIUS
At this hour? Who says so?
Taylor enters scene, coming over to the cage bars as Lucius continues
gravely, with just a note of disdain.
LUCIUS
Don't they tell you anything? The Anti-
vivisectionist Society is up in arms. They're
going to save this beast from those butchers
in the lab. If he can speak he belongs in the
public zoo.
(taking off)
But what'll probably happen is that some
money-mad grown-up will put him in a circus.
And then we'll have to pay to see what
rightfully should have --
JULIUS
Stop making speeches and show me the order.
Lucius hands the guard a document. It is dark here, so Julius crosses
to a beam of light near the bars and studies the document. Lucius,
behind the guard's back, signals frantically for Taylor to seize or
strike the guard. Taylor is slow to understand. Lucius shakes his
head impatiently.
JULIUS
(peering at document)
This order's no good. It must be counter-
signed by Dr. Zaius --
Lucius suddenly gives Julius a violent shove. The guard's head crashes
against the bars and he is stunned.
LUCIUS
Hit him!
Taylor complies bringing down the heel of his fist on the nape of the
guard's neck. Julius collapses. The youngster immediately squats down,
gags him, and begins to bind him hand and foot. CAMERA MOVES IN.
TAYLOR
Who are you?
LUCIUS
(looking up,coolly)
So you can talk.
(as he works)
I'm Dr. Zira's nephew. This abduction was
her idea. You're not really going to the
zoo. That's just our cover story in case
we're stopped.
(off again)
Although I do feel that if it ever came
down to a question of whether something
like you should be public or private
property --
TAYLOR
Come on. Get me out of here.
Taking the guard's keys, Lucius rises and unlocks the cage. Nova enters
the scene, coming to the bars of her cage.
295 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA
He gazes at her, tense with indecision. She flashes an imploring smile,
a mute appeal that cannot be denied. Over this we hear:
LUCIUS' VOICE
(o.s.)
We've got to move fast.
296 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE LUCIUS
as Taylor leaves his cage.
TAYLOR
She comes along too.
LUCIUS
Zira doesn't want your female.
TAYLOR
I want her.
LUCIUS
(a shrug)
If you insist. But I'm not taking
any orders --
TAYLOR
Fine. Just let her out.
Lucius unlocks Nova's cage. She comes out quickly, takes Taylor's hand.
They follow Lucius out of the compound.
297 EXT. ANIMAL COMPOUND - MED. SHOT - NIGHT
A horse-drawn caged wagon (like that used in the hunt) stands near the
building. Zira waits at the rear of the wagon. Lucius, Taylor and Nova
emerge from a doorway or archway and join her. Zira notes Nova's
presence with disapproval. They speak in undertones.
ZIRA
(to Lucius)
I told you not to bring the other one.
LUCIUS
He wouldn't leave her.
ZIRA
(with a sigh)
All right...
(to the humans)
Get in...hurry. Put this on.
TAYLOR
Listen-
ZIRA
Taylor -- just keep quiet and we may get
away with this. Remember that men all
look alike to most apes.
Taylor and Nova comply, climbing into the cage. Lucius closes the
tailgate. Lucius and Zira move to the front of the wagon and climb
aboard. Lucius takes the reins. As they move off:
WIPE TO:
298 EXT. LAKE AND CAUSEWAY - LONG HIGH ANGLE SHOT - NIGHT
As previously established, the animal compound is on the outskirts of
Apetown. The abductors must cross the causeway on their route of
escape. In the distance, near the gazebo, we can see the lights of
several torches.
The caged wagon rolls into scene and out onto the causeway. At the same
time a mounted gorilla leading two pack animals appears on the far side
of the causeway, coming toward CAMERA. Lucius stops the wagon.
299 CLOSE TWO SHOT - LUCIUS AND ZIRA - ON THE WAGON
LUCIUS
(apprehensively)
Gorilla hunters ...
ZIRA
Keep moving. We can't turn back now.
300 BOOM SHOT - THE CAUSEWAY
As the mounted hunter nears the wagon, we can see two bodies slung
across the backs of the pack animals.
301 FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - IN WAGON CAGE
They look out at:
302 THE PASSING HORSES - FROM THEIR P.O.V.
The bodies on the horses are naked human corpses.
303 MED. LONG SHOT - THE CAUSEWAY - REVERSE ANGLE
In immediate f.g., near the gazebo, is a similar wagon. It has lost a
wheel, and its rear axle lies on the edge of the causeway. Two naked
primitive males can be dimly seen within the cage. Four or five armed
gorilla hunters stand near the wagon: two of them carry torches; the
others are passing a jug from hand to hand-.
The leader of the Hunt Club, still on horseback, holds up his hand as
the lab wagon approaches.
LEADER
Hold it!
Lucius obeys. The hunters on foot swarm around his wagon as their
leader calls authoritatively:
LEADER
Ah, Doctor Zira! Our wagon broke down! I'm
afraid we'll have to commandeer yours.
304 CLOSER ANGLE - THE LAB WAGON
as the Hunt Club Leader rides over, recognizing the animal
psychologist.
ZIRA
You can't! I've two sick humans in the
cage. We're taking them to the chief vet
at the zoo ...
LEADER
(indicating his
own wagon)
We bagged two live ones today. I'll have
to ask you to take them along.
He moves to the rear of the wagon.
ZIRA
(following him;
frantically)
No, no, my animals are diseased... Leave
them alone! They're diseased, I tell you!
Lucius jumps down and runs toward the rear of the wagon.
305 REVERSE ANGLE - REAR OF WAGON
The hunters have opened the tailgate and are shining their torches on
the humans. They sound ready for sport.
FIRST HUNTER
Give him a taste of fire!
One of the hunters points his torch at Taylor, who, quite naturally,
shrinks back as Lucius runs into scene.
LUCIUS
Stand back! He's dangerous!
FIRST HUNTER
Why?
ZIRA
He's rabid! His bite is fatal!
FIRST HUNTER
You serious?
LUCIUS
You would die in agony!
(with appropriate gestures)
Frothing at the mouth!
The hunters fall back. Lucius promptly locks the tailgate and he and
Zira run back to the front of the wagon. Lucius snaps the reins and the
wagon moves off. The hunters follow it a few paces, pausing near their
mounted leader.
FIRST HUNTER
They treat those animals better than they
treat us.
LEADER
I still say the only good human is a dead
human.
The fugitives' wagon recedes beyond the gazebo, as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
306 EXT. AN OPEN RANGE - LONG SHOT - DAWN
The horse-drawn wagon is silhouetted-against the dawn light, bumping
across a semi-arid plain studded with mesquite and sage. (This SCENE
can be SHOT either on the Navajo reservation near Page or on the
Ranch).
DISSOLVE TO:
307 EXT. SAVANNA (OR CULTIVATED FIELDS) - LONG SHOT - MORNING
This is the same area described on page 24, where the hunt occurred. As
the wagon rolls along a dirt track, the tall grasses of the savanna (or
cultivated field) can be seen in b.g.
308 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - IN WAGON CAGE
Taylor is dozing, but the girl is alert and nervous. She peers out at
the field, apparently recognizing or remembering this terrain. She
nudges Taylor, waking him.
309 EXT. GROVE OF WILD FRUIT TREES - LONG PANNING SHOT - DAY
This, too, is the location described on page 24. CAMERA PANS with the
wagon as it rolls into the grove and HOLDS on three horses. Cornelius
sits astride one horse; the other two nags are heavily burdened with
packs and saddlebags.
310 CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROVE - FAVORING CORNELIUS
He dismounts as Zira and Lucius jump down from the wagon
and hurry toward him. Cornelius and his fiancee embrace and kiss
lightly, ape-fashion.
CORNELIUS
How did it go?
ZIRA
There was one bad moment -- some hunters
stopped us.
LUCIUS
(calmly)
I pursuaded them our beasts had rabies.
311 CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - IN CAGED WAGON
The apes discussing the abduction are out of earshot. Exasperated to be
thus ignored and caged, Taylor kicks the tailgate, shouting:
TAYLOR
Let me out of here!
312 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE THE GROUP
Lucius hurries back to unlock the tailgate. Taylor gets out of the
wagon, stretching his stiffened joints. Nova follows suit. During the
ensuing exchange the girl seems strangely agitated, pacing to and fro,
her eyes scanning the grove and fields in search of someone or
something.
CORNELIUS
(approaching)
Well, Taylor -- we're all fugitives now.
TAYLOR
Do you have any weapons?
CORNELIUS
The best. But we won't need them.
TAYLOR
Just the same, I want one.
He moves toward one of the horses. Cornelius starts after him.
CORNELIUS
Look here, Taylor. I'm in charge of this
expedition --
Taylor takes a rifle from one of the packs, examines it.
TAYLOR
Fair enough. But you're no longer in
charge of me. And I don't mean to be
captured again.
Zira and Lucius have come up.
CORNELIUS
(peeved)
As you wish.
TAYLOR
Zaius seems to think there might be
another jungle beyond the Forbidden Zone.
That's what we'll try for. What about you?
ZIRA
Cornelius and I have been indicted for
heresy. Unless we can prove our theories,
we don't stand a chance of acquittal.
TAYLOR
You're going back to the Forbidden Zone?
CORNELIUS
To the diggings I worked at a year ago.
It's a three day ride across the eastern
desert, near where you claim you landed
from that planet of yours.
TAYLOR
You still don't believe me, do you?
CORNELIUS
(shrugs)
It's a long detour to Dead Lake. What
would we find?
Taylor makes a helpless gesture, realizing that he cannot present sure
proof.
TAYLOR
Nothing much. The remnants of a life raft.
Maybe a small flag. The emblem of my
countrymen.
CORNELIUS
Sorry, Taylor. The terrain around that lake
is poisonous. There is no fresh water, no
vegetation. Nothing.
TAYLOR
I know ... Nevertheless, I thank you
for saving us. You'll be in trouble for
going there.
ZIRA
(a smile)
We've been in trouble since the moment we
met you.
Nova seizes Taylor's arm to get his attention. Trying to communicate,
she makes whimpering sounds and points at:
313-
314 OMIT
315 THE DISTANT JUNGLE - AS SEEN FROM THE GROVE
This is the same view of the jungle that Taylor saw when the gorilla
hunters emerged from the trees. (Page 25)
ZIRA'S VOICE
(o.s.)
What's she pointing at?
316 BACK TO TAYLOR AND THE OTHERS
Taylor smiles at Nova, gives her a reassuring shrug.
TAYLOR
That's the way home. And she knows it.
Nova turns away, still holding Taylor's arm, tries to lead him toward
the jungle.
TAYLOR
(sharply)
Nova!
(she turns; he shakes
his head, says gently)
We can't stay there. It's not safe.
She looks at him sadly.
ZIRA
We'd better get started. If the mounted
police pick up our trail, they'll come
this far at least.
CORNELIUS
Right.
(to Lucius)
Let's put the water and provisions in
the wagon.
He and Lucius move off toward the horses.
ZIRA
(indicating Nova)
Are you going to take her with you?
TAYLOR
Yes.
ZIRA
Actually, you're a different breed.
This creature will never evolve.
TAYLOR
Maybe not.
ZIRA
(smiling)
You want her that much?
TAYLOR
(testily)
You threw us together, remember? And you
guessed right. Men, like apes, get
despondent without a mate.
He walks off to help Lucius and Cornelius. Nova tags along behind him
as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
A-316 THE GROUP MOVES ACROSS A PLATEAU
DISSOLVE TO:
317 EXT. DRY WASH AND TAMARISKS - FEATURING SCARECROWS - DAY
The caravan is crossing, in a reverse direction, the route taken by the
astronauts on page 17. The three apes are on horseback. Taylor and Nova
follow in the wagon. They are nearing the row of sinister scarecrows on
the bluff above the dry wash.
318 MED. SHOT - THE THREE MOUNTED APES
They halt briefly and look up at the crosses. Lucius is impressed.
LUCIUS
Who put them up?
ZIRA
The Hunt Club.
LUCIUS
To scare off humans?
CORNELIUS
To scare us, too. We're entering
the Forbidden Zone.
They move off again, riding across the dry wash.
319 TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - SEATED ON THE WAGON
They, too, have stopped and are looking up at the scarecrows. Nova is
plainly terrified. She grabs Taylor's arm, whimpers.
TAYLOR
Don't worry. You'll be safe with me.
(sudden smile)
Here. It's time you learned to earn
your keep.
He hands the reins to Nova. She just sits there. He demonstrates.
TAYLOR
You can do it. Like this ...
Nova flicks the reins, reacting in wide-eyed, open-mouthed disbelief as
the horse obeys her.
DISSOLVE TO:
320 EXT. DESERT PLATEAU - LONG HIGH ANGLE SHOT - DAY FOR NIGHT
The party is traversing a red desert to the east of Dead Lake. Great
sandstone monoliths rise from the desert floor. From this vantage point
the horses look no bigger than ants.
DISSOLVE TO:
321 EXT. RIM OF A DEEP GORGE - HELICOPTER SHOT - DAY
This is terrain never before seen in this picture. (Lake Powell
location, a few miles northeast of Wahweap). The party can be seen on
the rim of a flat desert tableland that falls away abruptly to a vast,
irregular river of deep blue water. Taylor, Cornelius and Lucius are
unloading the wagon and repacking their provisions and equipment on the
backs of horses. Zira watches them.
A-321 CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROUP
Zira wanders off, falls to her knees.
LUCIUS
Something's wrong with your mate.
Taylor looks off. He and the others move quickly to Nova, CAMERA
PANNING with them.
B-321 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - AROUND NOVA
She has been retching. Taylor lifts her up. She is faint with nausea.
Zira squats down beside them.
ZIRA
Let me handle this.
(ruefully, to Taylor)
You may be smarter than I am, but I'm
the veterinary on this planet.
Assisting Nova to her feet, Zira leads her off toward the wagon.
C-321 MED. SHOT - CORNELIUS, TAYLOR AND LUCIUS.
Taylor watches the departing females, then looks down at the river.
TAYLOR
Where does the river lead?
CORNELIUS
It empties into a sea some miles from
here. That's where the cave is.
D-321 LONG SHOT - THE RIVER - FROM THEIR P.O.V..
The river winds o.s. between the sheer sandstone Cliffs rising from
either bank.
TAYLOR'S VOICE
(o.s.)
And beyond that?
E-321 THREE SHOT - TAYLOR, LUCIUS AND CORNELIUS
CORNELIUS
Don't know. At high tide you can't ride
along the shore, and we had no boats on
the last expedition.
TAYLOR
You've never told me why this region's
called the Forbidden Zone.
CORNELIUS
No one really knows. It's an ancient
taboo. Set forth in the Sacred Scrolls.
The Lawgiver pronounced the area deadly.
LUCIUS
Shouldn't we be moving on?
TAYLOR
I'm for that.
They start toward the horses and wagon.
F-321 GROUP SHOT - NEAR WAGON
Zira is looking curiously at Nova, who stands in the shade leaning
against the wagon as the males enter the scene. Nova's nausea has
passed, and she comes smiling to Taylor.
TAYLOR
What's the diagnosis, doctor? A touch
of the sun?
ZIRA
She's not sick at all.
(a beat)
She's pregnant.
G-321 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR
Consternation slowly gives way to wonder. He grins.
TAYLOR
So I'm not an altogether
different breed, you see?
DISSOLVE TO:
322-
325 THE DESCENT OF THE GORGE - SEVERAL SHOTS - DAY
To reach the camp site -- a beach at the base of the gorge -- the party
must lead the horses along a narrow trail that zigzags down the face of
the sandstone cliffs. They have abandoned the wagon.
DISSOLVE TO:
326 EXT. ARCHEOLOGICAL CAMP - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
Sand bars and two narrow beaches are in evidence here. The camp itself
consists of several lean-tos against the cliff wall. Above the camp,
reached by ladders connected to scaffolding, is the mouth of a cave.
Zira is cleaning up the breakfast things; Zaius and Lucius are sorting
out equipment.
A-326 CLOSER ANGLE - TAYLOR AND ZIRA
A small bowl of water rests on the ground in front of Taylor He has
nearly finished shaving himself with a sharp hunting knife. Nova
watches, a look of fascinated approval on her face. Taylor rinses off
his knife, starts to dry it. Nova reaches out, gently strokes his
smooth -- if nicked -- chin.
TAYLOR
(smiling)
You like it?
Lucius and Cornelius come up, Zira with them.
LUCIUS
(disapprovingly)
Why did you do that? Scrape off your
hair?
TAYLOR
In my world -- before I left it -
only youngsters of your age wore un-
scraped hair.
CORNELIUS
(to Taylor, quizzically)
It makes you look somehow ... less
intelligent.
Taylor grins wryly at Cornelius, picks up his rifle.
TAYLOR
When are you going to show me what's
in the cave?
CORNELIUS
Right now, if you like.
They cross the beach to the ladders, when suddenly they hear the sound
of horses. They look o.s.
B-326 WHAT THEY SEE:
Dr. Zaius and five armed and mounted apes have come around the corner
of the beach and ride toward them through the rocks.
C-326 MEDIUM - THE GROUP
Taylor scrambles up onto the lower scaffold. Lucius runs to a lean-to,
scoops up his rifle.
CORNELIUS
Lucius -- don't fire at them.
The party rides up.
ZAIUS
You're all under arrest!
(to Lucius)
You seditious scoundrel. Drop that
rifle.
327- OUT
348
349 FLASH SHOT - LUCIUS
He wavers, lowering his piece.
350 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE BOTH GROUPS
Zaius' gorillas ride forward a few paces, but halt again as Taylor
shouts:
TAYLOR
Stop right there.
ZAIUS
Don't be a fool. You're outnumbered
and outgunned.
Taylor aims at Zaius and calls out:
TAYLOR
If there's any shooting, Dr. Zaius,
you'll be the first to die. Depend
on it.
CORNELIUS
(protesting)
Taylor, you're not in command here.
Put down that gun.
TAYLOR
Shut up.
Silence. Zaius knows Taylor isn't bluffing.
ZAIUS
Very well.
(to his followers)
Lower your weapons.
They obey. Taylor calls again:
TAYLOR
(pointing)
Tell them to move around the point.
Out of range.
Zaius turns and whispers to his apes. They rein about and ride away
through the rocks. Zaius dismounts and approaches the fugitives alone.
He is unarmed.
351 CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROUP
As Zaius draws nearer) Lucius lowers his rifle. But Taylor keeps his at
the ready.
CORNELIUS
(uncertainly)
How did you know we'd come here?
ZAIUS
It wasn't difficult. Only an apostate
or a lunatic would flee to the Forbidden
Zone.
(a glance at Taylor)
I see you brought along the female of
your species.
(Taylor nods)
I didn't realize a man could be monogamous.
TAYLOR
On this planet -- it's easy.
Zaius laughs derisively, then turns to the apes.
ZAIUS
(evenly)
I ask you to reconsider the rash course
you've taken. If you're convicted of heresy,
the most you'll get is two years. But if
you persist in pointing guns in my direction,
you'll hang for high treason.
CORNELIUS
(respectfully)
We've never meant to be treasonable, sir.
(pointing off)
But up there, in the face of that Cliff,
is a vast cave -- and in that cave a
fabulous treasure of fossils and artifacts.
ZAIUS
I've seen some of your fossils and artifacts.
They're worthless.
TAYLOR
(derisively)
And that's your Minister of Science. Honor-
bound to expand the frontiers of knowledge.
ZIRA
(worried)
Taylor, please --
TAYLOR
Except that he's also the Chief Defender
of the Faith.
ZAIUS
(loftily)
There is no contradiction between faith
and science. True science.
TAYLOR
(suddenly angered)
All right, let's see if you're willing
to put that statement to a test.
CORNELIUS
Taylor, I'd rather you -
TAYLOR
No. You saved me from this fanatic. Maybe
I can pay you back.
ZAIUS
(calmly)
What is your proposal?
TAYLOR
When were the Sacred Scrolls written?
ZAIUS
Twelve hundred years ago.
TAYLOR
Very well. If Zira and Cornelius can prove
that those scrolls don't tell the whole
truth of your history; if they can show you
definite evidence of another culture from an
unrecorded past -- will you exonerate them?
ZAIUS
Of course.
TAYLOR
Okay.Up to the cave.
He gestures toward the path leading to it. Zaius, Zira, and Cornelius
start upward. Lucius starts to follow them.
TAYLOR
Sorry, Lucius. You'll have to stay here
and guard the horses.
LUCIUS
Always giving orders. Just like every
other adult.
TAYLOR
Relax. You'll see it all later.
He pats the barrel of Lucius' gun, in the manner of a stern but
benevolent non-com, then starts up the trail with Nova at his heels.
Lucius, unused to taking commands from an animal, scowls after him,
then shrugs, adjusting to the Idea.
352-
355 OUT
356 EXT. WESTERN WALL OF GORGE - LONG SHOT - ANGLING UP
AFTERNOON
The sun hovers over the lofty rim of the lake like a great red balloon.
The wall of the gorge, in shadow, is a darker hue.
357 EXT. EASTERN WALL OF GORGE - LONG SHOT - ANGLING UP
The crenelated east wall, looking like a red cathedral, is aglow with
sunlight. So is the mouth of the cave as the three apes, Taylor and
Nova pass through it and o.s.
358 INT. CAVERN - BOOM SHOT - DAY
Nature has formed a vaulted room here. It need not be enormous, but
should be as weird and fantastic as production capabilities permit.
There is an ape-made excavation in the floor of the cave, some ten feet
square and eight feet deep. Some small objects lie on the rim of the
excavation. Zaius, Cornelius, Zira, Taylor and Nova enter from the
outside.
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: The effect should be an eyeful. I wish to create an
illusion of sunlight penetrating this cave, flooding it with direct,
refracted illumination, transforming it into a kaleidoscopic cavern.)
ZAIUS
Present your evidence, Cornelius.
Cornelius clambers down into the pit, followed by Zira. Taylor bends
down, examines some of the artifacts lined along the edge of the
excavation. Nova sits beside him.
CORNELIUS
(pointing)
It was at this level I discovered traces
of an early ape creature -- stage of
primitive barbarism, really -- dating back
roughly thirteen hundred years. It was here
I found cutting tools and arrowheads of
quartz and the fossilized bones of
carnivorous gorillas.
CAMERA (ON BOOM) MOVES IN SLOWLY as Cornelius continues:
CORNELIUS
But the artifacts lying at your feet
were found here, at this level. And
that's the paradox. The more ancient
culture is the more advanced. Admittedly,
many of these objects are unidentified,
but clearly they were fashioned by beings
with a knowledge of metallurgy.
CAMERA KEEPS MOVING IN on the group in and around the excavation as
Cornelius continues:
CORNELIUS
Indeed, the very fact that these tools
are unknown to us could suggest a culture
in certain ways almost equal to our own.
Some of the evidence is uncontestable ...
ZAIUS
(interrupting)
Don't speak to me in absolutes. The
evidence is contestable.
CORNELIUS
I apologize.
ZAIUS
To begin with, your methods of dating
the past are crude, to say the least. There
are geologists on my staff who would laugh at
your speculations.
TAYLOR
Perhaps that's why they're on your staff.
Zaius flicks a hostile glance at Taylor, then looks down at the
artifacts. He nudges them with his foot.
ZAIUS
Secondly, if these 'tools' as you call
them, are unidentified, why are they
introduced as 'evidence' of anything?
ZIRA
(promptly)
But there's the doll, sir.
ZAIUS
What?
CORNELIUS
(pointing)
Right there. The human doll.
Zaius deigns to stoop and pick it up.
359 CLOSE ON DOLL - IN ZAIUS' HAND
It is only a porcelain fragment, but the head is intact, and it is
unmistakably the form of a human child.
ZAIUS
What does this prove? My grand-
daughter plays with human dolls.
360 FULL SHOT - THE EXCAVATION - INCLUDING TAYLOR
Exasperated, Zira turns to the man for confirmation.
ZIRA
Taylor! Tell him.
TAYLOR
He has a point. On my planet children
often play with ape dolls.
Zaius idly tosses the doll to the ground near Nova. She picks it up,
studies it.
361 GROUP SHOT - THE THREE APES
Cornelius tries again.
CORNELIUS
A doll alone proves nothing. True. But
the doll was found beside the jawbone
of a man -- and no trace of simian fossils
has turned up in this deposit.
ZAIUS
Your conclusion is premature. Have you
forgotten your Scripture? The Thirteenth
Scroll?
(quoting from memory)
'And Proteus brought the upright beast
into the garden, and chained him to a tree,
and the children made sport of him.'
CORNELIUS
(impatiently)
No sir, I haven't forgotten.
ZAIUS
Well? For a time the ancients kept humans
as household pets. Until the Lawgiver
proved that man could not be tamed. Keep
digging Cornelius. You'll find evidence of
the master of this house: an ape.
A-361 ANOTHER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TAYLOR AND NOVA
As Zira again appeals to the man.
ZIRA
Are you going to let that pass without
an answer?
Taylor, who has been toying with objects in the dirt, looks up.
TAYLOR
Yes. I have to agree. From all you've
found so far, his position's as good as
yours.
CORNELIUS
(annoyed)
What are you doing there?
TAYLOR
Reconstructing a life. Care to have a
look?
Cornelius and Zira cross the pit and Zaius walks around the rim of the
excavation.
B-361 MED. CLOSE SHOT - FAVORING TAYLOR AND NOVA
As the apes come close. A number of artifacts have been arranged in
front of Taylor.
TAYLOR
(to Cornelius)
These were found near the human doll,
right?
(Cornelius nods)
Well, whoever owned them was in pretty
bad shape.
He picks up the twisted fragment of a pair of spectacles.
TAYLOR
Defective eyesight..
As Taylor continues his monologue, he picks up the other objects one by
one.
TAYLOR
He wore false teeth.
(pause)
He suffered from a hernia and used
this truss to hold up his insides ...
(pause)
And toward the end, these little rings
of stainless steel enclosed a prefab-
ricated valve in his failing heart.
Taylor pauses. Zaius picks up two of the steel rings, studies them.
TAYLOR
I don't say he was a man like an Earthman,
but I'd call him a close relative, for
he was plagued by most of man's ills.
(to Zaius pointedly)
Yet, fragile as he was, he came before you
-- and was superior to you.
ZAIUS
(a calm smile)
That's lunacy. I can give an alternate
description for everyone of those objects
that's equally as inventive as yours. But
it would be conjecture, not proof.
362 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TAYLOR AND NOVA
She is poking her finger inside the decapitated head of the doll. From
it comes a distorted SOUND.
DOLL'S HEAD
Mamma! Mamma! Mamma!.
The apes stare at the doll in astonishment. Taylor snatches the doll
from Nova, brandishes it at the astonished Zaius.
TAYLOR
Dr. Zaius! Would an ape make a human
doll that talks?
Zaius looks at him, speechless. At that moment the CRACK of a distant
rifle shot reverberates through the cavern. All present freeze,
listening.
ZIRA
Lucius....
363-
364 OUT
365 FULL SHOT - THE CAVERN - REVERSE ANGLE
Taylor alone is armed. Raising his rifle, he glowers at Zaius.
TAYLOR
You louse!
Cornelius is already crossing the pit. He climbs out arid races toward
the mouth of the cave. Taylor runs after him. Zira and Nova hurry after
Taylor.
366 MED. SHOT - ZAIUS
Expressionless, he looks down at the doll, then moves toward the mouth
of the cave.
367 EXT. TRAIL FROM CAVE TO CAMP - ANGLING UP
Cornelius emerges from mouth of the cave and runs down the trail toward
CAMERA. He halts in f.g., looking down at:
368 THE CAMP SITE - AS SEEN FROM THE TRAIL
Two of Zaius' gorillas have disarmed Lucius and are clubbing him with
their rifle butts. Two other mounted apes are driving the scientists'
horses back beyond the trees.
369 EXT. THE TRAIL - AS SEEN FROM THE BEACH
Cornelius, Taylor, Nova and Zira (in that order) can be seen high
above, descending the trail. CAMERA PULLS BACK TO DISCLOSE A GORILLA
SNIPER in immediate f.g., crouching behind a boulder near the water. He
sights his rifle at the man on the trail. Taylor is still too distant
to make a sure target, and so the sniper waits.
370 CLOSER ANGLE - TAYLOR ON THE TRAIL
This portion of the trail has no cover or concealment. Unaware of the
sniper, Taylor looks down at the camp as he makes his descent.
371 LONG SHOT - TAYLOR - AS SEEN IN THE SNIPER'S SIGHTS
The gorilla fires.
372 CLOSE SHOT - TAYLOR
The bullet ricochets off the rock wall a foot above his head. Taylor
scans the terrain bewlow, looking for the sniper. Nova comes to his
side, pointing at:
373 THE SNIPER - FROM THEIR P.O.V.
His head is visible behind the boulder as he reloads his piece .
374 FLASH SHOT
He aims and fires.
375 FLASH SHOT - THE SNIPER
Taylor has missed him, but the sniper ducks behind the boulder.
376 THE TRAIL - PANNING WITH TAYLOR AND NOVA
Taylor takes her hand and they race back up the trail to where Zira is
standing. Outcroppings of rock offer some cover here. Taylor pushes
Nova down behind a rock and signals for Zira to follow suit.
377 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - TAYLOR, NOVA AND ZIRA
The sniper's SECOND SHOT rings out. Instead of returning the fire,
Taylor looks up the rail at:
378 ZAIUS - FRO14 TAYLOR'S P.O.V.
He is standing impassively on the trail a short distance below the
mouth of the cave.
379 FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR
Bent low, he comes charging up the trail toward Zaius. The sniper's
THIRD SHOT splatters rock fragments around him.
380 REVERSE ANGLE - THE TRAIL - ANGLING UP
Zaius starts to retreat to the cave, but stumbles and falls on some
loose shale. No sooner has Zaius regained his feet than Taylor
overtakes him. Seizing the ape around the neck with his left arm.
Taylor drives the muzzle of his pistol into Zaius' kidney. He spins
Zaius around, using him as a shield.
381 CLOSE TWO SHOT - ZAIUS AND TAYLOR
Taylor releases the pressure on Zaius' throat but keeps the gun pointed
at his back.
TAYLOR
Tell him to pull back!
ZAIUS
(a hoarse cry)
Cease fire! Withdraw!
His command echoes from the west wall of the canyon.
382 LONG SHOT - THE FLOOR OF THE GORGE - FROM THEIR P.O.V.
The sniper emerges from behind a boulder near the shore, and walks off
along the beach.
383 BACK TO TAYLOR AND ZAIUS
Taylor lift's the muzzle of his rifle and presses it against the back
of Zaius' head.
TAYLOR
I ought to kill you right now.
(nudging him)
Let's go.
They move off down the trail.
384 EXT. ARCHEOLOGICAL CAMP - MED. SHOT - DAY
Zira rushes down the trail to Lucius, who is sprawled on the ground. He
has a bloody nose and a lump on his forehead. Nova and Cornelius come
next, then Taylor, prodding Zaius ahead of him at gun point. Lucius
appears to be more humiliated than hurt.
LUCIUS
They took me by surprise. Sneaked
up on me while I was watering the
horses. What's happened to honor?
(pause, glum)
I got off one round to warn you.
CORNELIUS
(gloomingly)
They've taken everything.
TAYLOR
Not everything. They left a hostage.
(a pause)
How do you feel, Lucius?
LUCIUS
Disillusioned...
(turning on)
But vindicated! I've been right all
along. You can't trust the older
generation. It's a matter of values --
TAYLOR
(gently)
All right, all right. Will You do me
a favor? No orders.
LUCIUS
(pause)
What is it?
TAYLOR
I want you to go around the bend and
tell those gorillas their leader is my
prisoner.
LUCIUS
(thoughtfull pause)
Yes, I can do that.
TAYL0R
Good. Say I want a week's supply of food
for the woman and myself. A horse. A spade.
And fifty rounds of ammunition.
LUCIUS
What if they won't agree to your terms?
TAYLOR
Then tell them Dr. Zaius won't leave
here alive.
ZIRA
(shocked)
Taylor, you can't.
ZAIUS
(Calmly)
Oh yes he can. He's a born killer.
(to Lucius)
Deliver the message.
Lucius looks to Taylor for confirmation. Taylor nods. The young ape
hurries away through the rocks. Taylor crosses to a useless saddle,
picks up a coil of rope, gestures at Zaius, indicating a nearby tree.
TAYLOR
Sit down. Over there.
Zaius squats on the ground beside the tree. Taylor sets his rifle
against the trunk, fashions a noose and places it around Zaius' neck.
Then, using an ingenious combination of knots, he ties Zaius' hands
behind his back, and finally fastens the rope around the base of the
tree.
TAYLOR
(as he works)
Now, Minister of Science - let me explain
certain principle stress and strain. If
you exert pressure to remove these bonds,
you'll choke yourself to death. It'll be
suicide, you see?
Zira and Cornelius look down at the captive mandarin. Their rebellious
spirit has evaporated, and they are clearly afraid.
ZIRA
Taylor, please -- don't treat him that
way.
TAYLOR
Why not?
ZIRA
It's humiliating.
TAYLOR
Wasn't I humiliated? By all of you?
Didn't you lead me around on a leash?
CORNELIUS
That was different. We thought you
were .... inferior.
TAYLOR
(wintry smile)
And now you know the truth.
(to Zaius)
Cornelius has beaten you, Doctor. He
proved it. Man preceded you here. You
owe him your science, your language,
whatever knowledge you have.
ZAIUS
(quietly)
Then answer this: If ran was superior,
why didn't he survive?
TAYLOR
(shrugging)
He might have been wiped out by a plague.
Natural catastrophe. Like a fiery storm
of meteors. From the looks of this part
of your planet, I'd say that was a fair bet.
ZIRA,
(weakly)
But we can't be sure.
TAYLOR
(indicating Zaius)
He is. He knew all the time. Long before
your discovery, he knew.
(to Zaius)
Defender of the Faith. Guardian of the
terrible secret. Isn't that right, doctor?
385-
388 OUT
389 REVERSE ANGLE - CIRCLE - FAVORING ZAIUS
As Zira and Cornelius look at him expectantly.
ZAIUS
What I know of man was written long ago
-- set down by the wisest ape of all --
our Lawgiver.
(to Cornelius)
Open my breast pocket.
Cornelius crosses to Zaius, and takes a small book bound in black
leather from the breast pocket of his tunic.
ZAIUS
Read it to him: the twentythird Scroll,
ninth Verse.
Cornelius thumbs through the book, finds the citation and reads aloud:
CORNELIUS
'Beware the beast man, for he is the
devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates,
he kills for sport, or lust or greed.
Yes, he will murder his brother to possess
his brother's land. Let him not breed
in great numbers, for he will make a desert
of his home and yours. Shun him. Drive him
back into his jungle lair: For he is the
harbinger of death'.
Cornelius falls silent and looks down at Zaius.
ZAIUS
(quietly)
I found nothing in the cave to alter that
conception of man. And I still live by its
injunction.
A-389 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE GROUP
Lucius hurries out of the rocks leading a saddled horse. Zaius' five
mounted gorillas appear behind him. Taylor calls out to them:
TAYLOR
Stay where you are!
Lucius comes up with the horse. Taylor checks the provisions in the
saddlebags. Lucius is frowning.
LUCIUS
They think you're behaving foolishly. I
must say I agree. Where will you go?
TAYLOR
(nodding o.s.)
I'll start by following the shoreline.
(a smile)
And my nose.
ZIRA
But suppose you find nothing but a
wasteland. How will you survive?
ZAIUS
(firmly)
He won't survive.
(all look at him)
Do you know what sort of life awaits
you out there, Taylor? That of an animal.
If you aren't eventually hunted down and
killed by apes, some jungle beast will
devour you.
TAYLOR
Then there is another jungle?
ZAIUS
(shrugs; then,
sardonically)
Of course, you could return with us. Our
society might find a place for you and
your mate.
TAYLOR
Sure. In a cage.
ZAIUS
Where else, but in a cage, does man
belong?
TAYLOR
No, thanks. I'll take freedom.
Taylor mounts the horse, extends a helping hand to Nova, who vault's
nimbly onto the horse's rump. Taylor looks at Zira and Cornelius.
TAYLOR
Would you like to come along?
ZIRA
We can't.
TAYLOR
It's better than going to prison for
heresy.
CORNELIUS
They can't convict us of that. You
proved our innocence. Besides...
(indicating Zaius)
... his culture is our culture.
TAYLOR
Good luck then.
He reaches down, grasps Cornelius' hand, then grins crookedly.
TAYLOR
Dr. Zira, I'd like to kiss you
good-bye.
ZIRA
All right, but....
(tears in her eyes)
...you're so damned ugly!
Taylor smiles, leans down, kisses her.
ZIRA
(softly)
Go with God, Taylor.
(half smile)
That's an old expression. it comes
from both ape and man.
TAYLOR
God bless you.
He extends his hand to Lucius, who takes it.
TAYLOR
Lucius.
LUCIUS
I think you're making a mistake.
TAYLOR
That's the boy. Keep 'em flying.
LUCIUS
What?
TAYLOR
The flags of discontent. It's the only
way anything ever gets changed.
(to Zaius)
Don't try to follow us.
(pats stock of
his rifle)
I'm pretty handy with things like this.
ZAIUS
Of that I'm sure. All my life I've
awaited your coming and dreaded it.
Like death itself.
Taylor looks piercingly at Zaius, more troubled than offended.
TAYLOR
Why? From the first, I've terrified you,
Doctor. And in spite of every sign that
I'm an intelligent being who means no
harm, you continue to hate and fear me.
Why?
ZAIUS
(calmly,
without rancor)
Because you are a man. And you were right
-- I have always known about man. From the
evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk
hand in hand with his idiocy. His emotions
must rule his brain. He must be a warlike
animal who gives battle to everything around
him -- even himself.
TAYLOR
What evidence? No weapons were found in
the cave.
ZAIUS
The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise.
Your breed made a desert of it, ages ago.
TAYLOR
(he waits,
then wearily)
We're back at the beginning. I still don't
know the why. A planet where apes evolved
from men. A world turned wrong side up.
A puzzle with one piece missing.
ZAIUS
(softly)
Don't look for it, Taylor. You may not
like what you find.
B-389 WIDER ANGLE - TAYLOR AND THE GROUP
Taylor shakes his head, still baffled, digs his heels into the horse's
flank. It canters off along the sandy shore. Zira, Cornelius and
Lucius sadly watch the departure.
ZAIUS
Untie me!
Cornelius moves quickly to remove the rope from Zaius' neck. Behind
them, the five mounted gorillas gallop forward. Zaius gets up, waves
them to a halt.
ZAIUS
No, no! Let him go!
C-389 MOVING SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA ON HORSEBACK
Taylor looks back, sees that Zaius has stopped the mounted apes, slows
his horse to a trot, smiles at Nova.
390- OUT
405
406 MED. SHOT - THE APES
Zaius watches as Taylor's horse moves farther away along the beach.
Then he turns to an ape called MARCUS.
ZAIUS
(quietly)
Fetch your explosives. We're going
to seal the cave.
MARCUS
Yes, sir.
He remounts his horse and rides o.s.
CORNELIUS
(aghast)
Seal the cave?
ZAIUS
That's correct. And you will both stand
trial for heresy.
ZIRA
But the proof? The doll?
ZAIUS
In a few minutes there will be no doll.
There can't be.
(honest regret)
I'm sorry.
Cornelius throws himself at Zaius.
CORNELIUS
You mustn't! You gave your 'word!
Zaius looks emptily at one of his apes.
ZAIUS
What I do, I do with no pleasure. Silence
him.
A hairy hand is clapped over Cornelius' mouth. He is dragged off,
struggling, kicking. Julius, unafraid, glares at Zaius.
LUCIUS
Dr. Zaius, this is inexcusable! Why must
knowledge stand still? What about the
future?
Zaius looks benevolently at Julius.
ZAIUS
I may just have saved it for you.
Julius and Zira look at each other, befuddled. Once more their eyes
follow the retreating figures of Taylor and Nova. The beach separating
the water from the canyon becomes narrower as they move downstream.
LUCIUS
What will he find out there, doctor?
A-406 CLOSEUP - ZAIUS
His face is A mask, his tone enigmatic.
ZAIUS
His destiny.
B-406 WIDER ANGLE - TIE APES P.O.V.
A moment later, as they watch, Taylor and Nova vanish around the bend.
407- OUT
408
409 EXT. PALISADE AND BEACH - LONG HIGH ANGLE SHOT - DAY
Taylor and Nova are already far downstream. There is a striking change
in the terrain. The area is still desolate,but some vegetation can be
seen on the palisade above the narrow beach, and the river has widened
to form a vast tidal basin where it meets the sea.
A NOTE ON PRODUCTION: If feasible at new location site, this scene
should be shot at high tide, so that the water laps at the base of the
cliffs, making a passage difficult and risky.
410 CLOSER ANGLE - PANNING WITH TAYLOR AND NOVA ON HORSEBACK
He is alert, sniffing the salt air, sizing up the situation. Hearing
the CRIES of birds, he reins in and looks' up.
411 SKY SHOT - CIRCLING BIRDS
Sea gulls are soaring overhead.
412 TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA ON HORSEBACK
His expression is expectant, searching. Nova emits a whimper of
anticipation, pointing off.
413 LONG SHOT - WHAT THEY SEE:
A verdant forest atop a distant palisade. Their view of the beach below
the forest, is cut off by a rocky promontory in the middle distance.
414 CLOSE SHOT - NOVA AND TAYLOR
He smiles at her hopefully.
TAYLOR
Yes, Nova -- I see it.
(looks again at
forest)
In my old profession green meant
safe. Green meant go.
The horse moves off at a trot, CAMERA PANNING. But they have gone only
a short distance when they hear the distant THUNDER of an EXPLOSION.
Taylor reins in and looks back.
415 VERY LONG SHOT - A CLOUD OF SMOKE
A column of smoke and dust rises from the exploded cave far upstream.
416 BACK TO TAYLOR AND NOVA
Frowning with concern, Taylor gazes for a moment at the smoke, then
decides this is no time to linger. He digs his heels into the horse's
flanks and they move off at a canter, riding toward the promontory that
splits the beach. They are nearing the promontory that blocks their
view of the beach beyond.
417- OUT
418
419 CLOSER ANGLE - TRACKING WITH TAYLOR AND NOVA.
As they round the promontory, the tip of a strange rock formation comes
into view. it appears to be jutting from the sea.
420 REACTION SHOT - TAYLOR
He reins in momentarily, baffled by what he sees. Then he rides on.
421 THE STRANGE FORMATION - AS SEEN BY TAYLOR
An immense column juts from the beach at a thirty-degree angle. We can
now see that it is not rock, but metal. Green metallic tints show
through its gray salt-stained surface. As we draw closer, the object
takes on the appearance of a massive arm, its top shaped like a hand
holding a torch.
422 REVERSE ANGLE - FAVORING TAYLOR
Frowning with consternation. His horse proceeds at a slow walk.
423 TRACKING WITH TAYLOR - WHAT HE SEES:
Near the base of the column, where the shore and water meet, are a row
of metal spikes. From this angle they look like tank traps.
A-423 CLOSER - TAYLOR
Dumbfounded, he slides from his saddle, approaches the spikes. Nova
dismounts and follows him.
TAYLOR
(a cry of agony)
My God!
He falls to his knees, buries his head in his hands. CAMERA SLOWLY
DRAWS BACK AND UP to a HIGH ANGLE SHOT disclosing what Taylor has
found. Half-buried in the sand and washed by the waves is the Statue of
Liberty.
424- OUT
451
FADE OUT
THE END